Oct. 25, 2006

Volleyball: Lutes Take 13-Match Win Streak on the Road

THIS WEEK: Pacific Lutheran (18-4 overall, 12-0 Northwest Conference) at Whitman, Friday, 7 p.m.; PLU at Whitworth, Saturday, 5 p.m.

UNBEATEN NWC RECORD ON THE LINE: Pacific Lutheran is perfect in 12 Northwest Conference matches this season and has won 13 straight, but the Lutes have a tough task ahead of them this weekend with matches at Whitman on Friday and at Whitworth on Saturday. The Whitman match figures to be particularly difficult for PLU because the Missionaries have given the Lutes fits in two matches this season. During the first weekend of the season, Whitman defeated Pacific Lutheran in four games, 30-27, 31-33, 30-24, 34-32 at the UPS Invitational. When the two squads faced off Sept. 29 in Olson Auditorium, the Lutes prevailed in five, 30-22, 30-27, 21-30, 23-30, 15-12. The Missionaries have one of the top setters in the conference in Kate Barsato, and their big front line has caused the Lutes some problems this season. Whitman, incidentally, is tied for fourth in the conference standings with a 6-6 record. On paper, Whitworth would be the easier of the two opponents, but as the saying goes, matches are played on paper. The Lutes had a tough time with the Pirates back on Sept. 30 before prevailing 30-14, 22-30, 30-13, 31-29, at Olson Auditorium. The Saturday match will be played at 5 p.m.

LUTES STRUGGLE AGAINST CELLAR DWELLER: While it is true that the Lutes are 12-0 in the Northwest Conference, they have struggled at times with some of the lower division conference teams. That was certainly the case last Saturday as the Lutes had to rally to beat winless Willamette, 26-30, 30-16, 25-30, 30-21, 15-8, in Salem. Senior middle blocker Kati McGinn (Puyallup, Wash. / Puyallup HS) led the Lutes with 20 kills, 22 digs, four service aces and three block assists. Junior outside hitter Stacie Matz (Tacoma, Wash. / Western Oregon Univ.) provided 18 kills and 10 digs, while junior setter Gina Di Maggio (Olympia, Wash. / Tumwater HS) contributed 10 kills, 10 digs, 54 assists and six total blocks. Junior libero Megan Kosel (Puyallup, Wash. / Emerald Ridge HS) topped all players for both teams with 26 digs. PLU achieved a hitting percentage of .192, including .500 in the fifth game.

WIN STREAK: Pacific Lutheran's winning streak has reached 13 matches, two short of the school record set by the conference champion 2004 squad.

LUTES RANKED NATIONALLY: Pacific Lutheran remains No. 21 in this week’s American Volleyball Coaches Association Top 25 Coaches Poll. This is the third straight week that the Lutes have been nationally ranked, initially being ranked No. 23. Joining the Lutes in the national poll is fellow Northwest Conference member Linfield, which moved up one spot to No. 14. Linfield, by the way, is 10-2 in the conference, two games behind the Lutes.

- PLU -