LA VERNE, Calif. - It was a tough Saturday for the 24th-ranked Pacific Lutheran University volleyball squad, closing out its non-conference slate by falling 3-0 to Chapman University and 3-2 to Pomona-Pitzer Colleges at the Leopard Invitational.
"It's been a challenging three weeks and it's the toughest schedule in my 24 years as the coach," said Head Coach
Kevin Aoki. "Today we again played well despite some lineup changes. I thought the strength of this non-conference schedule will only help us as we attempt to defend our NWC title."
Against Chapman (7-2), the Panthers scratched out a 25-23 win in the opening set after scoring four of the final five points. The Lutes scored eight of the first 10 points in the second set but the tide turned later in the set with Chapman six of the final seven points to seize the 25-22 win. The Panthers closed out the match in the third, prevailing 25-18.
Danielle Skibiel finished with 10 kills while
McKenzie Pfeiffer added eight.
Emily Dulaney had a double-double with 28 assists and 11 digs while
Halle Hetzler tallied 16 digs.
Against the Sagehens (6-4), the Lutes won the opening two sets before running out of gas against Pomona-Pitzer who was playing its first match of the day. The opening set was tied at 23 before a
Baylee Johnson kill and a P-P attack error gave the Lutes the 3-2 win. PLU took the second set 25-20 before the pendulum swung to the Sagehens. PLU trailed 19-18 in the third before Pomona-Pitzer closed the set on a 6-0 run to secure the 25-18 win while scoring six in a row midway through the fourth to emerge with the 25-17 win. A 9-1 Pomona-Pitzer run in the fifth set closed the door on the Lutes, taking the set 15-8.
Skibiel and Pfeiffer again paced the Lute attack, finishing with 17 and 16 kills, respectively. Dulaney notched 44 assists with Hetzler and
Emma Peters contributing 28 and 10 digs, respectively.
The two-time Northwest Conference Champion Lutes open the conference slate on Friday, hosting Whitworth University at 7 p.m. inside Olson Gymnasium.
