TACOMA, Wash. – Lewis & Clark College volleyball traveled north, hoping to accomplish what no other team in the Northwest Conference has been able to do so far this fall: earn a win, or at least win more than one set. Still, in the end, they suffered the same fate as every other team Pacific Lutheran University has played in conference this season: a loss.
THE BASICS
Pacific Lutheran 3, Lewis & Clark 0 (25-16, 25-15, 25-20)
(Lewis & Clark 6-10, 1-7 NWC)
(Pacific Lutheran 9-7, 8-0 NWC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Lewis & Clark senior
Izzy Willis led all players with 13 kills in the match and made it her second consecutive double-double by adding 12 digs. Fellow outside hitter
Annika Traxler also notched a double-double for the second match in a row with 11 kills and 13 digs.
The Pioneers jumped out to a 4-1 lead to start the match behind a service ace by freshman
Ruby Kuerschner, a kill by Willis, and a couple of Lutes errors. Pacific Lutheran corrected course and tied the first set at four on back-to-back kills. The two sides exchanged points, with neither team taking control early on. Traxler knocked down her first kill of the match to make the score 11-all. From there, the Lutes began to pull away and take the first set 25-16.
Pacific Lutheran carried the momentum from the first set and jumped out to a quick 11-4 lead. Traxler would help Lewis & Clark close the gap as the junior pounded three kills on a five-point run that pulled the visitors within 11-9. The Lutes went on a 9-2 run that ended when the Pioneers subbed in
Ella Ruark to the front row, and the junior made an immediate impact recording her first kill of the match and teaming up with freshman
Christi San Diego two points later to stuff a Lutes' attack. Despite the positive shift, Pacific Lutheran adjusted and closed out the set to take a 2-0 lead into the break.
Not to be intimidated, Traxler's arm put the Pios up 2-0 to start with third with two of her five kills in the set. Like set one, the two sides exchanged points for much of the early going. Playing in their second NWC conference match,
HB Schuett recorded their first kill in conference play to put Lewis & Clark up 13-12. The Pioneers would tie the set at 16-all with a block by Kuerschner and junior
Emily Strand.
Coming out of Lewis & Clark's final timeout, Traxler pulled the team within 18-17. Pacific Lutheran then pulled away with a 6-0 run, which Traxler ended with another kill. The Pioneers staved off two match points and pulled within 24-20, but the Lutes pulled out the win and extended their current win streak to eight.
Libero
Katie Shimaura moved into fifth all-time in career digs with the 22 she recorded against the Lutes. The senior now has 923 career digs.
BY THE NUMBERS
- One night after Shimaura moved into 8th in program history with 84 service aces, Willis added two more service aces to her total and has 85 aces in her career. Willis is now tied for 7th in program history.
- Kuerschner barely missed out on her second consecutive double-double, dishing out 22
- Pacific Lutheran has only lost three sets during their eight-match win streak, beating George Fox, Whitworth, and Puget Sound in four sets.
WHO'S NEXT
Lewis & Clark returns to Pamplin Sports Center for their SAAC Orange Out game against Whitman on Friday at 7:00 p.m.
