TACOMA, Wash. - The Pacific Lutheran University volleyball team slammed Northwest Conference Whitworth University in the opening set but was unable to sustain that momentum the rest of the match, falling 3-1 (19-25, 25-22, 25-12, 25-19) inside Olson Gymnasium.
 
"I thought we came out strong in the first set and they started to raise the level of play the last three sets," said Head Coach Kevin Aoki. 
 
The Lutes (3-4) never trailed in the opening set, coming away with the 25-19 win. PLU tallied three of the opening four points of the set. The Pirates (6-0) tied the score at 3-3 and against at 5-5 before the Lutes rattled off a 7-1 run to enjoy a 12-6 lead. Five straight points ballooned the lead to 19-8 en route to the set win.
 
Powered by two aces from Madeline Dawson, the Lutes surged to an 8-2 lead in the second set. Whitworth crawled back into the set, recording six straight points to seize a 14-12 advantage. The Pirates would use a 5-0 run later in the set to turn a 14-14 deadlock into a 19-14 lead on their way to the 25-22 set win. 
 
Whitworth notched the final five points in a 25-12 win in the third set before wrapping the match with a 25-19 win in the fourth set.
 
Lauren Wilson tallied a double-double with 12 kills and 16 digs while Baylee Johnson added 12 kills and four blocks. McKenzie Pfeiffer added eight kills with Emily Dulaney racking up 31 assists. Halle Hetzler accrued a team-high 31 digs while also serving up three aces. 
 
"The nice thing about this year is we get a chance at them again tomorrow night."
 
The Lutes and Pirates are back at it tomorrow afternoon with first serve set for 6 p.m. inside Olson Gymnasium.