MCMINNVILLE, Ore. – Receiving votes in the AVCA poll, the Pacific Lutheran Lutes received the best punch from the Linfield Wildcats, but managed to win 3-0 on Saturday night.
 
The win helps the Lutes move to 3-1 in Northwest Conference play, while the Wildcats are last in the conference at 0-4.
 
Both teams exchanged points early on, but the Lutes took the advantage on four straight aces by Halle Hetzler at 17-13 and went on to win the first set, 25-14.
 
The Wildcats opened the second set up 3-0 on kills by Raelynn Hammock and Kara Thomas, but the Lutes answered back with a 5-0 run.
 
Linfield was able to create some separation in the second set at 15-13 on an ace by Aylea Dixon, but Pacific Lutheran closed out the second set, 25-19 on a 10-2 run.
 
The Lutes opened the third on an 8-4 run and managed to keep the Wildcats at bay to close out the match.
 
A kill by Thomas pulled Linfield within 21-18, but Pacific Lutheran won the next four to win this one.
 
For the Wildcats, Dixon had 20 assists and Maya Nakasone had 18 digs. Hammock and Regan Dean had eight kills each.
 
Pacific Lutheran landed 24 percent of the attacks compared to just three percent for Linfield.
 
Pacific Lutheran has dominated the all-time series and now leads 39-13 including winning the last five over Linfield.
 
UP NEXT
The Linfield Wildcats host the Whitman Blues on Friday at 7 p.m. and the Whitworth Pirates on Saturday at 6 p.m.