Oct. 12, 2007

Lutes Continue Winning Streak by Sweeping Willamette

Abby Mitchel - season-best six kills

Box Score

SALEM, Ore. - Pacific Lutheran won its 12th straight match and remained unbeaten in Northwest Conference volleyball action with a three-game sweep of Willamette on Friday night in Cone Fieldhouse. The Lutes won the games by 30-18, 30-19 and 31-29 scores.

The Lutes, who have won 36 of 38 games during their win streak, are now 16-3 overall and 9-0 in the conference, while Willamette falls to 3-16 overall and to 0-10 in Northwest Conference action.

Beth Hanna and Stacie Matz both finished with 14 kills for the Lutes, who hit .310 as a team during the match. PLU hit .345 in the first game and led by as many as 16 points, 22-6, before closing out the game. The second game was much the same as the Lutes hit .318 as a team. The Bearcats battled the Lutes in the third game, leading by two points early before the Lutes grabbed a six-point lead at 19-13. Willamette battled back and eventually tied the score at 29-29 before the Lutes closed the match with a kill by Hanna and one of Lauren Poole's three service aces.

Abby Mitchel came off the bench to have her best match of the season, finishing with six kills in seven attempts, an .857 attack percentage. PLU setter Gina Di Maggio continued her outstanding play with 37 assists, while Hanna also contributed a team-high 16 digs to go along with two solo blocks. Megan Kosel added 13 digs in the winning cause.

The Lutes, ranked No. 17 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III national poll, return to Northwest Conference action at 7 p.m. Saturday when they face Lewis & Clark in Portland, Ore.

- PLU -