TACOMA, Wash. – Brynn Blickenstaff tallied 17 kills and
two service aces to lead the University of Puget Sound volleyball
team over Pacific Lutheran 3-0 (25-19, 25-19, 25-19). The Loggers
(11-4, 6-1) snapped the Lutes (12-4, 6-1) 35-match conference
winning streak. The last time the Lutes lost in NWC play was in
September 2008 when the Loggers swept the Lutes.
Blickenstaff had a match-high 17 kills in the match, hitting
.406 to pace the Loggers. Erika Greene contributed 34 assists as
the Loggers jumped to a lead early and never looked back.
"Our biggest focus was on finally playing the way we
wanted to play," said head coach Mark Massey. "Tonight
was the first night this year that we really executed our game plan
through the entire match."
The Loggers executed equally as well in all three sets, hitting
.190 as a team and holding the Lutes to a .080 hitting percentage.
The Loggers also had seven service aces and again dominated at the
net, totaling six team blocks to the Lutes five. In addition to the
pair of aces by Blickenstaff, Greene recorded two aces of her own
with Stephanie O'Connor had three service aces.
Jaime Ecklund had a big night for the Loggers coming up with six
kills and four blocks. Jordan Bird also tallied four blocks while
Natalie Monro had seven kills.
With the win, the Loggers moved into a tie for first place with
the Lutes. Whitworth sits in second at 5-1.
The Loggers will return to Memorial Fieldhouse on Saturday to
host Pacific at 7 p.m. on Homecoming.