FOREST GROVE, Ore. - The Pacific Lutheran University volleyball squad was unable to stretch its win streak to five on Saturday evening, suffering a 3-1 (32-30, 24-26, 25-13, 25-17) setback inside the Stoller Center to Northwest Conference rival Pacific University.

"It was a tough loss against a very good Pacific team," said Head Coach Kevin Aoki. "I liked how we bounced back after losing 32-30 in the first set to win the second set. Pacific then got on a roll and played really well. We're looking forward to bouncing back and playing Puget Sound on Wednesday for our fifth straight away match."
 
The opening set morphed into a marathon with neither team able to gain separation. After seven potential set points it was the homestanding Boxers (12-4, 5-1 NWC) who would pull it out, sneaking out the 32-30 set win thanks to a Lute service error and a Boxer service ace from Terina DeFries.
 
The second set would follow a familiar script before consecutive kills from Baylee Johnson and Hailey Iha gave the Lutes (11-7, 4-2 NWC) the 26-24 win to level the match.
 
The third set was tied at seven before the Boxers seized control with 18 of the next 24 points to grab the 25-13 set win. Pacific would again assert control midway through the set in the fourth, turning a 9-8 lead into a 19-10 bulge on its way to a 25-17 win to wrap up the match.
 
Danielle Skibiel finished with 16 kills to pace the Lutes while McKenzie Pfeiffer and Johnson added 11 and 10, respectively. Emily Dulaney accumulated 37 assists while Halle Hetzler racked up 17 of the squad's 37 digs on the night.
 
The Lutes are back on the road on Wednesday night, heading across town to face nemesis University of Puget Sound.