Sept. 13, 2006

PLU Opens Northwest Conference Play This Weekend

2006 PLU Season Statistics

THIS WEEKEND: Pacific Lutheran opens Northwest Conference play this weekend with a pair of matches on the road. The Lutes play against the Pacific Boxers on Friday night and against the Lewis & Clark Pioneers on Saturday night. Both matches start at 7 p.m.

ABOUT THE BOXERS: Pacific has a 2-7 overall record, but that could be deceiving considering that the Boxers have played eight teams ranked among the Division III Top 25. One of their two victories came against nationally ranked Cal State East Bay. Last weekend the Boxers played four nationally ranked teams in as many matches at the Washington University National Invitational in St. Louis, Mo. Though they lost all four matches, they did take a pair of opponents, including No. 2-ranked Wittenberg (Ohio) to four games. Junior outside hitter Jill Peacock leads the Boxers with 3.0 kills per game, that despite standing only 5-8. Northwest Conference coaches picked Pacific to place eighth in the nine-team conference.

ABOUT THE PIONEERS: Like Pacific, the Lewis & Clark Pioneers are 2-7 entering Northwest Conference action. The Pioneers have played four matches against Top 25 teams. They are on a bit of a roll with wins against Pomona-Pitzer and Whitter in two of their three most recent contests. Junior outside hitter Nicki Smith leads the Pioneers with 2.66 kills per game. NWC coaches picked Lewis & Clark to place seventh in the final conference standings in their preseason poll.

LAST WEEK: After beating St. Martin’s in a five-game thriller during the week, Pacific Lutheran split four matches at the at the 2006 Molten Volleyball/Wyndham Hotel CC Invitational hosted by Colorado College. It marked the second straight weekend tournament in which the Lutes won their first two matches and then dropped their next two. On Friday, PLU routed Concordia (Tex.), 30-9, 30-13, 30-21, then knocked off then No. 25-ranked Elmhurst (Ill.) in three straight games, 30-26, 30-27, 30-21. The following day, facing No. 10-ranked Linfield, the Lutes fell 32-30, 33-31, 30-24. PLU had game point in both of the first two games but could not finish the deal against the Wildcats. Finally, the Lutes closed out the tournament against host Colorado College by losing in four, 30-25, 24-30, 30-18, 30-28.

ALL-TOURNAMENT AND OTHER HONORS: For the second straight weekend, junior setter Gina Di Maggio (Olympia, Wash. / Tumwater HS) and junior outside hitter Stacie Matz (Tacoma, Wash. / Wilson HS, Western Oregon Univ.) earned all-tournament honors. Matz earned the honor despite sitting out the final match against Colorado College to rest her shoulder. Based on her performance during the tournament and in the Lutes’ mid-week victory over St. Martin’s, Di Maggio earned honorable mention Northwest Conference Player of the Week recognition.

ROAD WARRIORS: By the time the Lutes play their first home match on Sept. 22 against Cal State East Bay, they will have played 12 contests. After the conference counters this weekend in Oregon, the Lutes travel across town to face the Puget Sound Loggers on Sept. 20. Once they start the home portion of their schedule, however, the Lutes will play seven of their next nine matches in the friendly confines of Olson Auditorium.

THE COACH: Kevin Aoki is in his 11th season at Pacific Lutheran (his alma mater and has compiled a 164-103 record.

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