TACOMA, Wash. - The Pacific Lutheran University volleyball squad battled back from an early deficit but was unable to pull out the victory on Wednesday night inside Memorial Fieldhouse, suffering a 3-2 (25-20, 25-19, 13-25, 20-25, 15-10) decision at the hands of Northwest Conference rival University of Puget Sound.
 
The host Loggers (10-9, 5-2 NWC) stormed out of the gate, leading wire-to-wire to claim the opening two sets. Puget Sound scored seven of the first eight points in the first set and raced out to a 23-14 lead. The Lutes (11-8, 4-3 NWC) scored six of the next seven but it wasn't enough as a kill ended the late surge with UPS prevailing 25-20.
 
Puget Sound opened up 22-12 lead in the second. Pacific Lutheran attempted to crawl back into the set but it was too little, too late, with UPS securing the 25-19 win.
 
The script flipped in the third set with the Lutes securing a 9-1 lead largely off the serve of Halle Hetzler. PLU would ride that momentum the rest of the set, claiming the 25-13 set win. 
 
Neither side was able to earn separation in the fourth before the Lutes took control late in the set, scoring the final four points to seize the 25-20 win and force a deciding fifth set. McKenzie Pfeiffer ignited the late rally with a kill while an Emma Peters ace and a Danielle Skibiel kill closed out the set.
 
PLU jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the fifth but it proved fleeting with Puget Sound scoring 10 of the next 15. A Pfeiffer kill would cut the Logger lead to 11-9 before the hosts scored four of the final five points, including a match clinching ace, taking the set 15-10.
 
Baylee Johnson led the Lutes with 15 kills while Skibiel added 14 with a .314 attack percentage and nine digs. Emily Dulaney had 33 assists, nine digs, and four aces, while Hetzler contributed 22 digs.
 
"When playing our crosstown rivals we always know it's going to be a fight," said Assistant Coach Kylai Cooley. "To have that much grit and tenacity to come back after being down 0-2 is something to applaud. I'm so proud of our senior captains Danielle and Emma for being phenomenal teammates and leaders tonight. Our team left it all on the court and you can't ask for anything more from your players."
 
The Lutes are back on the court on Friday, hosting Willamette University on Friday at 7 p.m. inside Olson Gymnasium.