Beth Hanna attacks against Cal State-East Bay

Zenon Olbertz photo

Sept. 22, 2007

Lutes Win Sixth Straight, Sweep No. 12 CS-East Bay 32-30, 30-24, 30-27

Box Score

PARKLAND, Wash – Pacific Lutheran began the volleyball season on Sept. 1, 2007, with a 3-0 loss at the hands of the Cal State-East Bay Pioneers in Forest Grove, Ore.

Saturday, in front of 300 fans on their home court, the Lutes avenged that loss with a three-game sweep of their own, 32-30, 30-24, 30-27. It was the second time in their last three matches that the Lutes defeated an opponent ranked higher than themselves, after Tuesday’s 3-1 home victory over the No. 17 Puget Sound Loggers. With the win, the Lutes improve to 10-3 overall and remain 4-0 in Northwest Conference play.

In the first game, the Lutes overcame a seven-point deficit and outscored the Pioneers, 6-1, in the last seven plays to come back from a 29-26 deficit and earn the 32-30 win. For the game, Cal State had a better kill percentage than the Lutes, .136 to .080, but they couldn’t capitalize on the advantage at the end of the game.

PLU built a 10-0 lead in the second game, but saw the Pioneers battle back to within one at 19-18. From that point, however, the Lutes prevented the Pioneers from stringing together more than a couple points in a row, and the Lutes pulled away, 30-24.

The third game featured more back-and-forth play between the two teams and another comeback for the Lutes, as the Pioneers held a four-point lead before the Lutes used a couple of four-point runs to finish the sweep with a 30-27 win.

Freshman outside hitter Beth Hanna led both teams with 18 kills in the match, 10 of them in the second game, while senior setter Gina Di Maggio had the most assists with 35. Saturday’s match was the fifth time this season that the Lutes have played a team that was either part of the AVCA preseason top 25 or a current top 25 team. With the win, the Lutes improved to 3-2 in these matchups, with each victory coming against a higher-ranked opponent.

The Lutes will look to continue their winning streak next weekend as they travel to Eastern Washington to face Whitman and Whitworth in a couple of Northwest Conference matchups. PLU is currently in first in the conference while Whitworth is tied for second.

- PLU -