Setting the Scene: After five matches on the road, the Lutes finally get to enjoy the comforts of home again, hosting George Fox to kick off Homecoming weekend inside Olson Gymnasium.
Series History: PLU has won 22 of the last 23 matches against the Bruins and owns a 46-26 advantage in the all-time series dating back to the 1980 season.
About the Lutes: Pacific Lutheran (8-7, 3-4 NWC) won three straight matches before seeing its win streak come to a halt on Wednesday night, dropping a five set match to crosstown rival Puget Sound.
Prior to Puget Sound, the Lutes racked up wins at the expense of Lewis & Clark (3-0), Pacific (3-2), and Willamette (3-2).
Elle Thomas led the Lutes against the Loggers, finishing with 17 kills, three shy of her career best. Claire Hindman added 14 and five aces with Olivia Ever netting a double-double of 46 assists and 13 digs. Halle Hetzler headlined the defensive efforts with 30 digs.
Hetzler leads the NWC run digs per set, averaging 6.1 while Ever is third in the league in assists with 8.5 per set. Offensively, Hailey Iha is fifth in the conference in hitting percentage at .296 with Thomas seventh in kills (2.9) and Baylee Johnson ninth (2.8).
About the Bruins: George Fox (7-6, 4-2 NWC) hits the road and heads to Tacoma after playing its last four matches at home. The Bruins had mixed results during the homestand, splitting both weekends. GFU dropped a 3-2 match to Puget Sound to open things up on Sept. 23 before rebounding with a 3-1 win over Linfield. Last weekend, the Bruins downed Whitman 3-1 but came up short 3-1 against Whitworth.
Kassandra Staton leads the offense with 142 kills on the year, averaging 2.8 per set while Bailey LeBreton checks in with a 2.7 per set average. Kennedy Kibby is the primary setter, averaging 6.8 assists per set while Addison Hawes adds 3.9 per set. Piper Harrop leads the team with 4.5 digs per set while LeBreton has a team-best 44 blocks on the year.
Home Sweet Home: Olson Gymnasium has been a daunting environment for opposing teams with the Lutes enjoying a 119-20 record in the facility since the 2006 season. That includes unbeaten home records during the 2018, 2014, 2013, and 2007 campaigns.
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Trailblazing NIL the D3 Way: PLU Athletics continues to lead the way nationally in Name, Image, and Likeness, unveiling the Luteville Marketplace on August 31 through the department's partnership with Opendorse. Learn more about the deal here: LINK. But don't stay on the sidelines, get involved and connect with PLU student-athletes on the Luteville Marketplace: LINK
The Luteville Marketplace is the first dedicated NIL marketplace in Division III on the Opendorse platform that directly connects student-athletes with fans, supporters, and business partners in an easy to use website.
Next Home Match:
Oct. 21 vs. Linfield at 7 p.m.
PLU Non-Discrimination Policy: Pacific Lutheran University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability or age in its programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Title IX Coordinator Jennifer Childress-White; 253-535-7361; TitleIX@plu.edu