NEWBERG, Ore. - The Pacific Lutheran University volleyball team opened its five-match road swing on a positive note on Friday evening, powering past Northwest Conference rival George Fox University 3-1 (25-16, 21-25, 25-18, 25-14) inside the Wheeler Sports Center.
 
The visiting Lutes (9-6, 2-1 NWC) led wire-to-wire in the opening set to secure the 25-16 win. PLU scored 10 of the opening 14 points before seeing the Bruins fight back, whittling the Lute advantage to just two points. A GFU service error, jump-started a 9-2 Lute run to close the set to secure the victory.
 
PLU trailed 22-21 in the second set before a service error and two GFU kills gave the Bruins (4-8, 1-2 NWC) the 25-21 set win to level the match. The Lutes notched eight of the first 11 points in the third, staking a 25-18 victory before finishing off the hosts in the fourth set by scoring eight of the final nine points for the 25-14 set win to secure the match.
 
Danielle Skibiel finished with a match-high 12 kills with McKenzie Pfeiffer and Hailey Iha adding nine and seven kills, respectively. Emily Dulaney had 33 assists and 13 digs while Halle Hetzler and Emma Peters logged 25 and 20 digs, apiece.

"We came out strong which was good to see because we've been talking about that," said assistant coach Rusty Carlson. "After a tough second set it showed great focus to play really well in the third and fourth sets. Emma serves especially tough and Emily remains the best setter in the conference. Our hitters adjusted well to GFU's defense schemes and it was a really good team win."

The Lutes are back on the court tomorrow at 6 p.m., facing Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon.