TACOMA, Wash. - Hailey Iha impressed the home crowd with 12 kills on just 24 attacks but it wasn't enough for the Pacific Lutheran University volleyball team to come away with the win on Friday evening, coming up short 3-1 (25-19, 21-25, 25-23, 25-23) to a red-hot George Fox University in a Northwest Conference clash inside Olson Gymnasium.
 
Iha finished the night with a .458 attack percentage, netting 12 kills on 24 attacks with just one error. Mckenzie Pfeiffer matched Iha's production with 12 kills while Savanna Service and Danielle Skibiel added 10 and nine, respectively. 
 
"Our main thing is just to finish strong. Our coaches told us don't worry about the scores as long as we play scrappy, play our game, and put up a fight it will be a good match," said Iha.
 
The visiting Bruins (9-11, 6-5 NWC) got an early leg up in the match, scoring seven of the final 10 points to take the opening set 25-19. The host Lutes (13-10, 6-5 NWC) trailed 16-15 in the second set before scoring five straight, including a pair of service aces from Emily Dulaney to seize the lead. PLU would lead the rest of the way, scoring seven of the final seven points to secure the 25-21 win.
 
Pacific Lutheran trailed 23-17 in the third before scoring the six to tie the game at 23. Emma Peters powered the run, netting a kill and a pair of aces but it wasn't enough as consecutive kills from George Fox was enough for the visitors to claim the set 25-23. 
 
GFU scored four of the first five and staked a 12-5 advantage in the fourth but the Lutes wouldn't go down quietly, clawing back into the set and closing within a point courtesy of a 6-0 run. The Lutes would eventually tie the set at 19 but was unable to get over the hump as the Bruins did just enough to collect the 25-23 win to secure the match.
 
Emily Dulaney was once again the Lutes' offensive engine, generating 45 assists while also adding 13 digs and three aces. Halle Hetzler led the Lutes with 26 digs while Skibiel added 11 and Emma Peters tacked on 10.
 
"We battled with great effort but came up a little short against a very good George Fox team who have won five in a row," said Head Coach Kevin Aoki. "I thought Savanna and Hailey had great nights and both had career-highs in kills."

PLU Volleyball falls to George Fox 3-1 in a very hard fought game tonight. @GoffZach35 speaks with freshman Hailey Iha about the team's resilience in tough matches. pic.twitter.com/piH7Vwo5HC

— PLU Athletics (@golutes) October 26, 2019

The Lutes are back on the court tomorrow night, hosting Linfield College at 6 p.m.