NEWBERG, Ore. - Stretching their string of consecutive victories in Northwest Conference women's volleyball play to 35, the visiting Pacific Lutheran University Lutes posted a 3-0 win (25-17, 30-28, 25-14) over the George Fox University Bruins Saturday night here at the Wheeler Sports Center's Miller Gym.

Pacific Lutheran, which has won or shared each of the last four NWC titles, has not lost in conference play since absorbing a 3-0 loss to the University of Puget Sound on Sept. 24, 2008. 

A .429 attack percentage, with 14 kills and only two errors, propelled the visitors to victory in the first set.  The Lutes scored the first two points of the game and never trailed, building up an early 11-5 lead on a kill by Melissa DeWalt.  The Bruins closed within two at 11-9 on three straight service aces by Isabel Valentine, but the Lutes took off on an 11-3 run to take their largest lead at 22-12.  A Beth Hanna winner closed out the set.

Out-hitting the Lutes .204 to .170, the Bruins gave the Lutes all they could handle in set two.  George Fox held the set's largest lead of four points at 9-5 following a PLU attack error, but the Lutes tied it 10-10 on a Bruin hitting error.  Neither team led by more than two points thereafter, with 11 more ties. 

PLU led 24-22 when the Lutes committed a service error, then the Bruins' Chelsea Wilson served an ace to tie the set.  PLU twice took the lead, only to have the Bruins tie it each time.  George Fox went ahead 27-26 on a kill by Valentine, but Hanna responded with a clutch kill to again forge a tie.  Blair Bjorkman's ace gave the Lutes yet another chance to end it, but an attack error enabled the Bruins to stay alive a little longer.  Hanna, a two-time NWC Player of the Year, answered with back-to-back kills to finally give the Lutes the win.

The third set belonged entirely to the Lutes as they hit .297 to .024 for the Bruins.  After four early ties, the Lutes broke a 4-4 deadlock with a block by DeWalt and Bethany Huston and never trailed again.  Gradually building up their lead, the Lutes finally put the match away with a closing 6-1 run, keyed by back-to-back winners from Kelsie Moore.

Valentine, Eliza Pledger, and Cassie Irwin led the Bruins with nine kills apiece.  Pledger, who missed the last three matches with a back injury, returned to the lineup and hit a match-high .471.  Ali Toedtemeier passed out 33 assists and made 12 digs, while Patti Reeves topped the team with 16 digs. 

Hanna had 13 kills to lead the Lutes, and Moore added nine.  DeWalt hit .462 and setter Sarah Beaver, who also had 35 assists, hit. 444.  Bjorkman had a match-high 18 digs and Moore chipped in with 11.  The Lutes had eight team blocks, Erin Bremond leading the way with four block assists.

NEXT: George Fox (6-10, NWC 1-5) goes on the road next weekend, first visiting Pacific University Friday at 7:00 p.m. ... Pacific Lutheran (12-3, NWC 6-0) visits crosstown rival Puget Sound Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.