TACOMA, Wash. - The Pacific Lutheran University volleyball squad sent off its seniors in style on Saturday night, rallying to a 3-1 (16-25, 25-10, 25-18, 25-17) victory over Northwest Conference rival Pacific University inside Olson Gymnasium.
 
The visiting Boxers scored seven consecutive points to turn a 9-9 deadlock into a 16-9 advantage in the opening set, cruising to the 25-16 victory. It would be all Lutes after that with PLU scoring the first four points and nine of the first 11 in the second set to emerge with the 25-10 decision.
 
Pacific Lutheran built an 11-4 advantage in the third set and never looked back, netting the 25-18 win before wrapping up the match with a 25-17 win in the fourth set. The fourth set was tied 11-11 before the Lutes ripped off the next seven points. Pacific whittled the gap down to just four before the Lutes tallied five of the final six points including a match clinching block from Emily Dulaney and senior Megan Finley.

"Our strategy was to just keep swinging hard and go after everything and really clean up what we did wrong in the opening set," said Finley.
 
Danielle Skibiel and Baylee Johnson finished with 10 kills apiece with Savanna Service adding nine along with four blocks. Dulaney racked up 39 assists while Halle Hetzler set the tone defensively with 19 digs.
 
"Well we couldn't have scripted it any better for senior night," said Head Coach Kevin Aoki. "Everyone played their hearts out. Thanks to our four seniors: Emma, Ang, Dani, and Megan for their contributions to the program and the University."
 
Saturday was Senior Day as the Lutes honored Skibiel, Finley, Emma Peters, and Angelica Hulett in a pre-match ceremony. The foursome have helped the Lutes win 71 matches over the past four seasons and two Northwest Conference titles. 
 
"I'm just so happy that I got to spend so much time with my team. My teammates have really been the reason I was able to do what I did tonight," said Finley.
 
PLU closes out its home schedule on Wednesday night, hosting crosstown nemesis University of Puget Sound at 7 p.m. inside Olson Gymnasium.