SPOKANE, Wash. - The ninth-ranked Pacific Lutheran University volleyball team picked up its first blemish of the Northwest Conference season on Saturday night, falling 3-0 (25-13, 26-24, 25-20) to host Whitworth University at the WU Fieldhouse.

The host Pirates (11-5, 5-1 NWC) rattled off the opening six points of the match and led wire-to-wire to claim the opening set by a 25-13 scoreline. Whitworth again claimed the first six points in the second set before the Lutes (12-2, 5-1 NWC) methodically chipped away at the lead. consecutive kills from Danielle Skibiel gave the Lutes an 18-16 lead. It remained a nip and tuck affair the rest of the set with the Pirates scoring the final two points to wrap up the set 26-24.

The two teams traded jabs in the third set before Whitworth took control, seizing the lead for good on a service error to take a 17-16 lead en route to the 25-20 set win to secure the match and hand the Lutes their first setback of the NWC slate.

"Have to hand it to Whitworth because they played lights out and caused us to play out of our system a lot," said Head Coach Kevin Aoki. "We'll bounce back and be ready for next weekend back at home."

Isabella Zubrod led the Lutes with 12 kills while Mackenzie Harris added seven. Ava Nelson collected 20 assists while Caylie Shiramizu finished with a team-high 10 digs.

The Lutes return home on Friday, hosting George Fox University at 7 p.m. inside Olson Gymnasium.