Setting the Scene: Pacific Lutheran is back at home after a two-match road swing and opens up Homecoming weekend with a showdown against NWC rival Linfield University.
Series History: The Lutes and Wildcats have met 101 times on the hardwood since the 1980 season with PLU holding a 60-41 edge in the series. That includes winning the last five encounters, sweeping the Wildcats in three sets last fall in Olson Gymnasium on Sept. 20 and picking up a 3-1 win in McMinnville on Oct. 19.
About the Lutes: Pacific Lutheran (5-6, 3-1 NWC) experienced mixed results last week, suffering a 3-0 setback to crosstown rival and NWC leading University of Puget Sound on Sept. 23 before securing a 3-1 road win over Willamette University last Saturday.
Against Willamette, the Lutes dropped the opening set 26-24 but won the remaining three, blowing outs the hosts 25-15 and 25-17 in the second and forth sets for the squad's first road win of the conference slate.
Julissa Pernsteiner led the Lutes offense with 10 kills in the win over the Bearcats with Alex Eggert adding eight. Ayre Takamoto had a double-double, leading the team in both assists (29) and digs (24).
Shaela Allen-Greggs leads the Lutes with 98 kills on the season, averaging 2.5 per set. Julissa Pernsteiner has 94 kills while Alexis Eggert adds 89 along with a team-best 33 blocks. The offensive attack flows through the sets of Ayre Takamoto who has 323 assists this fall, averaging 8.1 per set. Takamoto is also second on the team in digs with 108 through the opening 11 matches.
Macy Matsushima leads the team in digs, netting 4.5 per set. Bailey Johnson leads the team in aces with 19 while Matsushima has 17 on the season and Savanna Collide has 15.
As a team, the Lutes lead the NWC in service aces, collecting 2.3 per set while ranking third in the league in hitting percentage.
About the Wildcats: Linfield (4-5, 2-2 NWC) heads to Tacoma with a .500 record in conference play. The Wildcats opened the NWC campaign with a three set sweep on the road at Pacific University on Sept. 16 before dropping a hard fought five setter to Whitworth University 10 days later. Linfield rebounded with a 3-1 victory over Whitman College the next night but suffered another five set defeat on Tuesday night, getting outlasted by visiting Willamette University.
On Tuesday, the Wildcats had the Bearcats against the ropes, winning the first two sets but Willamette dominated the final three, posting winning scores of 25-19, 25-6, 15-7.
Nora Myra leads the Wildcats with 120 kills on the season, averaging 3.3 per along with a team leading 14 aces set while Lani Taliloa has 72 kills through the opening nine matches of 2025. Pi'ilani Hirahara is the team leader in assists with 181 while Margaritah Bañuelos has contributed 113.
Naia Alefaio-Foifua leads the team's defensive efforts with 156 digs, averaging 4.3 per set with Nora More chipping in 3.8 per set.
Home Sweet Home
The Lutes have been a tough team to beat inside Olson Gymnasium, owning a 59-9 record inside the facility since the 2017 campaign. That includes boasting an 21-1 record inside Olson since the 2023 season.
Highlights from Luteville
NWC Coaches' Poll
This August, the Lutes were picked to finish second in the league standings in what coaches believe will be a tight race for the conference title. One point is all that separates PLU from the top spot with three points the buffer from first to third.
Trailblazing NIL the D3 Way: PLU Athletics continues to lead the way nationally in Name, Image, and Likeness, unveiling the Luteville Marketplace last fall through the department's partnership with Opendorse. 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.
Stay connected to your favorite teams by downloading the official mobile app of the Pacific Lutheran University athletic department powered by SIDEARM Sports, available in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.
Featuring real-time news alerts, schedules, exclusive multimedia content, gameday details and more, the new PLU Athletics app is free and compatible with both iOS and Android devices.
Next Home Match:
Oct. 4 vs. Pacific at 6 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