Nov. 2, 2007

PLU Beats Linfield, Sets School Record With 22nd Victory

Megan Kosel - 32 digs

Box Score

McMINNVILLE, Ore. - Pacific Lutheran set a new school single-season record with its 22nd victory as the Lutes swept Linfield, 30-23, 31-29, 30-24, in a Northwest Conference volleyball match played Friday night at Ted Wilson Gym.

With its school-record 18th straight victory, the 14th-ranked Lutes improve to 22-3 overall and 15-0 in NWC play. The former record for wins in a season was 21 established by the 2003 team that finished with a 21-5 record. With the defeat, Linfield drops to 14-10 overall and 9-6 in conference action.

Scoring six of the first seven points of the night, the Lutes raced out to an early lead that Linfield could never match. The Wildcats got within two at 10-8 before the Lutes made another run, this time a 7-1 surge. Beth Hanna had nine kills, leading PLU to a 30-23 win in the first game.

After taking a 24-21 edge on the heels of an 8-0 spurt, the Wildcats could not hold off the Lutes in the second stanza. PLU rallied back before Linfield tied the game at 29. PLU recaptured the lead on a drop shot by Hanna, and then took the set 31-29 after a Wildcat team error.

PLU took care of business in the third game to sweep a match for the 16th time this season. Linfield was able to knot the game at 10-10, but PLU proved too much, taking the lead and holding it the rest of the way, winning 30-24.

Hanna, a freshman outside hitter playing in her home state, led the Lutes with 20 kills while Katelyn Baker tallied 12 kills for the Wildcats. Senior setter Gina DiMaggio had a remarkable night, dishing out 42 of the Lutes’ 46 assists, and senior libero Megan Kosel was all over the floor with an incredible 32 digs.

The Lutes close out the regular season at 7 p.m. tomorrow when they face the Pacific Boxers in Forest Grove, Ore.

- PLU -