Contact: Mark Albanese, Director of Sports Communication

SAN ANTONIO, Texas - The Pacific Lutheran University volleyball squad earned a split in the opening day of the Trinity Tournament on Friday, dropping a 3-2 (21-25, 25-17, 18-25, 25-19, 15-13) heartbreaker to the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor before rebounding with a 3-1 (25-13, 19-25, 25-12, 25-18) victory over Whittier College in the nightcap.

The opener was a see-saw battle with UMHB (5-0) emerging with the five set victory. The Lutes (2-4) took the first set by a 25-21 count, scoring four of the final five points including a set ending kill by Roshel Donwen. The Crusaders leveled the contest with a 25-17 win in set two before PLU was back in the drivers with a 25-18 win in the third. UMHB pulled out a 25-19 win in the fourth to force a decisive fifth set. The Cru scored the opening six points but PLU battled back, owning a 13-12 advantage off a UMHB attack error. The lead proved fleeting with the Cru ripping off the final three points to collect the 15-13 win.

Chloe Epker led the squad with 13 kills with Donwen adding nine. Madi Collier and Kiana Calles both accumulated 20 assists while Caylie Shiramizu accrued a team-high 22 digs.

In the nightcap, PLU owned a tenuous 12-10 edge in the opening set before scoring 13 of the next 16 points to secure the 25-13 win. The Poets (2-5) stole set two with a 25-19 win but it was all Lutes after that with PLU never trailing in a 25-12 win in set three before leading wire-to-wire in a 25-18 win in the fourth to wrap up the match.

Epker again paced the Pacific Lutheran attack, netting 16 kills. Calles had 18 assists with Shiramizu contributing 15 digs.

"It was a good day as we improved from the first match and bounced back after a five-set loss," said Head Coach Kevin Aoki. "Chloe had a great day hitting but overall we're looking to be more consistent."

The Lutes close out the Trinity Tournament on Saturday, facing Southwestern University at 8:30 a.m. before taking on host Trinity University at 11 a.m.