Three-Match Win Streak Snapped By No. 23 Pacific Lutheran
Box Score
TACOMA, Wash. - Pacific saw their three-match win streak snapped by the No. 23 team in the nation Saturday as Pacific Lutheran broke up a logjam for second place in the Northwest Conference standings by defeating the Boxers, 25-9, 25-22, 23-25, 25-19, in volleyball action in Olson Auditorium.
The two teams came into the match tied with Puget Sound for second place in the standings, all with 5-2 records. The Lutes (14-3 overall) are now tied with UPS at 6-2, one game back of first-place Whitworth, while Pacific (11-6) drops into fourth with a 5-3 record.
After the first set, there was little indication that the match would turn out as close as it did. That's because the host Lutes hit .304 in the set compared to -.067 for the Boxers. That was due in large part to the Lutes recording four team blocks, including two block assists each from Erin Bremond, Missy DeWalt and Bethany Huston. PLU also had four service aces in the set, including two by Blair Bjorkman.
Carrying the momentum of the 25-9 first set, the Lutes continued their relentless attack on the visitors, building a 20-8 lead on three kills and two aces by Bremond, in addition to a host of Pacific errors. The Boxers rallied behind
Kelsy Takashima (Sr., Kaunakakai, Hawaii) and
Alexa Block (Jr., Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.), eventually cutting the deficit to two points before the Lutes finally pulled out the set on a kill by Huston.
After trailing by as many as four points in the third set, 13-9, Pacific came storming back to grab the 25-23 victory. Block continued to show her offensive prowess with four kills, and the Boxers threw up some blocks, led by
Malea Webb (Fr., Spokane, Wash.) and Takashima, that stymied the Lutes.
In the deciding set, the Lutes grabbed a quick 2-0 lead and they never trailed, eventually ending it on another Huston kill.
Block led the Boxers with 16 kills and a .211 attack percentage, and she was all over on defense with 26 digs. Pacific had six team blocks, including five block assists each by Takashima and Webb. Takashima also finished the match with nine kills.
For the Lutes, Bremond was tough in the middle with 16 kills and an impressive .519 attack percentage. She also had a three service aces, one solo block and three block assists. Samantha North finished with 43 assists and two of PLU's 10 service aces, and Bjorkman led her team wtih 29 digs.
Pacific returns to the Stoller Center for a home weekend against the eastern Washington schools, hosting Whitman on Friday and Whitworth on Saturday.
