Sept. 15, 2007

Di Maggio Leads Lutes Past Lewis & Clark in NWC Volleyball

Gina Di Maggio - 42 assists

Box Score

PARKLAND, Wash. – Senior setter Gina Di Maggio recorded 42 assists and four service aces to lead Pacific Lutheran to a 30-14, 32-30, 30-21 Northwest Conference volleyball victory over the visiting Lewis & Clark Pioneers on Saturday night in Olson Auditorium.

The Lutes, ranked No. 21 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III national poll, improved their overall record to 7-3 and their conference mark to 2-0. The Pioneers are now 4-8 overall and 0-2 in the conference.

Di Maggio fed a potent PLU offense that recorded a .516 attack percentage in the first game. Though the Lutes cooled down in the second and third games, they still hit .248 overall as a team. Di Maggio herself had three kills in seven attack attempts and also added eight digs and three block assists.

Freshman outside hitter Beth Hanna and senior outside hitter Stacie Matz both had 16 kills for the Lutes, who also got nine kills and a team-high 11 digs from Kelcy Joynt.

After losing badly in the first game, Lewis & Clark battled the Lutes on nearly even terms the rest of the evening. The Pioneers pushed PLU in the second game with a .302 attack percentage. Katherine Fiedler and Sara Kettler both had seven kills to lead the Pioneers in the match, and Lara Smith had 23 assists.

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