Sept. 4, 2007

VOLLEYBALL: After Strong Showing at the Boxer Kickoff, Lutes Will Face Tough Competition at Trinity Tournament

THIS WEEK: Pacific Lutheran will travel to San Antonio, Tex., to play four matches at the River City Classic hosted by Trinity University. The Lutes will play Hardin-Simmons (3:15 p.m.) and Trinity (5:30 p.m.) on Saturday and SUNY Cortland (9 a.m.) and Concordia (11:30 a.m.) on Sunday.

LAST WEEK: After dropping a 30-18, 30-20, 30-25 decision to the Cal State-East Bay Pioneers, the Lutes stepped up to defeat No. 16-ranked Rhodes (Tenn.), 30-25, 30-27, 30-20 Saturday night. On Sunday morning the Lutes swept Wisconsin-Stevens Point, 30-14, 30-24, 30-26, giving the Pointers their first loss of the tournament. PLU followed that up Sunday afternoon with a 30-10, 30-15, 30-10 sweep of winless Baruch (N.Y.). Freshman outside hitter Beth Hanna looked very impressive for the Lutes, leading the team with a 4.7 kill per game average and a 3.2 dig per game average for the tournament. Senior setter Gina Di Maggio led the team with 9.82 assists per game.

TOUGH COMPETITION: After defeating a ranked Rhodes team along with a Wisconsin-Stevens Point team that is effectively ranked 31st in the AVCA poll, the Lutes will arguably face even stiffer competition this weekend, competing against a SUNY Cortland team that earned multiple votes for the preseason poll and a No. 7-ranked Trinity Tigers team that is favored to win its 10th straight conference championship. The Tigers, who finished last season with a loss in the national quarterfinals and ranked No. 5, are led by two former All-Americans: senior right-side Sara Buros, who made the first-team last season, and senior outside hitter Micaeli Smith, who was on the 2005 second-team before an injury forced her to redshirt last season.

PREVIEW: The Lutes will look to continue their hot play, having swept their last three matches playing against a couple of very good teams last weekend. Hanna will look to continue her impressive play, while seniors Di Maggio and outside hitter Stacie Matz will continue to provide veteran leadership for the very talented team. The mix of experience and young talent will continue to be key for a team looking to establish itself as worthy of national recognition and capable of playing with the top teams in the country. This weekend’s Trinity University Tournament will be the second and final regular-season tournament the Lutes play this season, as they will begin Northwest Conference play at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14, against Willamette in Olson Auditorium.

- PLU -