PARKLAND, Wash. – It was a rough road
trip for the Lewis & Clark volleyball team who dropped a three
set match to Northwest Conference power Pacific Lutheran on Friday
night in Olson Gymnasium. The Lutes bounced back after dropping
back-to-back conference matches last weekend to take down the
Pioneers 25-13, 26-24, and 25-17.
The win improves the Lutes to 14-6 on the season and 8-3 in the
NWC. The Pioneers fall to 8-13 overall and 4-7 in conference
action.
The Pioneers received 10 kills from Margaret Dowling and Gabby
Hands. Freshman Kelsey Dorpat contributed 19 assists to the Pios
attack, while Leia Matsunaga chipped in 11. Senior Lou Ohki came up
with 15 digs on the defensive end, while Katherine Fiedler had two
blocking assists.
Beth Hanna finished with a match-high 13 kills, while Allison
Wood ended the night with 10. Sarah Beaver had a strong night for
the Lutes, finishing with a match-high 41 assists. Defensively
Kelsey Moore finished with 12 digs. Erin Bremond ended her night
with four blocks.
Pacific Lutheran put in a dominate performance in the first set,
scoring the first six point, eventually running up an 11-3 lead.
The Lutes took their first double-digit advantage at 20-10, before
closing out the set on a kill.
The second set was close throughout, with neither team leading
by more than three points at any point. The Pioneers took a 7-4
lead on a Kayla Ernewein kill, only to see the Lutes regain the
lead at 10-8. Lewis & Clark inched their way back in front at
17-15. Neither team would lead by two points throughout the
remainder of the set until the Lutes scored the winner on a Pioneer
error.
With the score tied 4-4 in the third set, the Lutes managed to
score seven of the next eight points to take an 11-5 lead and never
look back. The Pios were able to battle back within two points at
12-10 with a block by Hands and Ernewein, but the Lutes eventually
pulled away finishing on consecutive kills.
The Pioneers return home to take on the Puget Sound Loggers at 7
p.m. on Oct. 23 in the Pamplin Sports Center.
