SPOKANE, Wash. – Looking to avenge its only home loss of the season, the Pacific Lutheran University volleyball team came up short against Northwest Conference-leading Whitworth University on Friday night, falling 3-0 to the Pirates.  
 
After dropping the first set 25-14, the Lutes pushed the home team to the brink in the second set before dropping the second frame 25-23.  PLU (12-9, 5-4 NWC) held an 11-7 advantage and continued to hold a 15-13 lead after a kill by sophomore McKenzie Pfeiffer.  However, the home team scored five straight points to claim a 17-15 lead.  Senior Danielle Skibiel put the Lutes on her back after that, with four of the next five points to put PLU back up front 19-18.  The two teams continued to go back and forth, and PLU held a 23-22 after a Pfeiffer kill, but the hosts scored the final three points to earn the victory.  
 
The Lutes continued to battle in the third set and evened the score at 9-9 before the Pirates pulled away for a 25-16 victory.  
 
"We ran into a very good Whitworth team tonight," said PLU Head Coach Kevin Aoki.  "They really came out tough especially at the net. They played like the top team in the conference. We will bounce back tomorrow night against Whitman."
 
The Lutes were limited to just a .044 attack percentage on Friday night.  Pfeiffer led the way with eight kills, while Skibiel chipped in seven.  Sophomore Emily Dulaney passed out 28 assists, while freshman Halle Hetzler led the team with 18 digs.  

Emiko Kahler had 20 kills to lead the Pirates, who hit .220 as a team.  Saylor Anderson and Joelle Forbes had 18 and 16 assists, respectively, while Anderson, Eva Millan and Kiana Vandaele all had double-digit digs.  
 
PLU looks to get back in the win column tomorrow night when they head to Whitman College for a 6:00 p.m. first serve.