Setting the Scene: After two weekends on the road, the Lutes finally get to enjoy the comforts of home, closing out their non-conference slate against an international opponent in Canada's Columbia Bible College.
Series History: This will be the first all-time meeting between the Lutes and the Bearcats. PLU is no stranger to playing Canadian schools however, having played 25 matches against British Columbia based Simon Fraser University from 1983 to 1997.
About the Lutes: Pacific Lutheran (4-4) returns from Texas with a pair of wins at the Southwestern Invitational last weekend.
The Lutes started the tournament with a bang, rolling Illinois Tech 3-1 before falling 3-1 to host Southwestern. The following day PLU defeated Concordia (Texas) 3-1 but fell in five sets to Texas Lutheran.
Kailee Efros-Bohn and Julissa Pernsteiner each finished the tournaments with 31 kills while Ayre Takamoto averaged 7.6 assists per set. Makenna Jackson had 15 aces over the four matches and racked up 79 digs. Both Takamoto and Jackson were named to the All-Tournament team.
National Rankings: Ayre Takamoto ranks 10th in the nation in total assists with 274 on the season while ranking 31st nationally in service aces with 19. Takamoto currently leads the conference in assists per set, total assists, and total aces while Makenna Jackson sits 13th nationally and second in the league in total digs (161).
Mr. 500: Head Coach Kevin Aoki sits five wins away from achieving a milestone 500th career win. Aoki, the Lute head coach since 1996, has a career mark of 495-226.
About the Bearcats: This will be the first match of the fall for Columbia Bible who finished the 2023-2024 season with a 7-13 record, playing in the Pacific Western Athletic Association.
CBC dropped six of its final eight matches of last season, including dropping the final series of the weekend to Vancouver Island, falling by identical 3-0 scores.
Home Sweet Home: Olson Gymnasium has been a daunting environment for opposing teams with the Lutes enjoying a 134-20 record in the facility since the 2006 season. That includes unbeaten home records during the 2023, 2018, 2014, 2013, and 2007 campaigns.
Weekend Rewind
Check out the goals, touchdowns, and kills from around Luteville last weekend. PLU volleyball won two matches in Texas, football steamrolled Simpson in Texas, and women's soccer netted two ties against nationally prominent programs.
NWC Preseason Coaches' Poll
Despite winning the NWC regular season and tournament titles last fall, the Lutes were picked to finish second in the conference standings in the annual preseason coaches' poll.
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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 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.
Last spring PLU became just the second Division III school in the nation and the first school in any division in the State of Washington to partner with Athlete's Thread. Athlete's Thread allows every Lute student-athlete to sell customizable gear and jerseys with their name and number and receive monetary compensation for a portion of each sale. Check out the link above to order your gear today!
Next Home Match:
Sept. 20 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