TACOMA, Wash. - The Pacific Lutheran University volleyball team rallied from a 2-1 deficit to saddle Northwest Conference leaders Whitworth University with its first blemish of the 2021 season on Saturday, with the Lutes walking out of Olson Gymnasium with the 3-2 (25-22, 22-25, 17-25, 25-22, 15-8) victory.

The opening three sets followed a familiar script from the previous night. The Lutes (4-4) came out hot in the opener racing out to an early 8-2 lead. The Pirates battled back and briefly took the lead but consecutive attack errors gave PLU the 25-22 set win. As with Friday night, Whitworth took sets two and three, putting the pressure on the Lutes in the fourth.

PLU hung tough in the fourth, grinding out a 25-22 win before collecting six of the first seven points in the decisive fifth set. The Pirates narrowed the gap to 11-8 but a Hailey Iha kill and two McKenzie Pfeiffer kills put away the Pirates for good to seal the set 15-8.

Pfeiffer finished with 20 kills on just 41 attacks, boasting a .390 attack percentage while also adding three blocks. Breeze Bartle had 12 kills and five blocks while Baylee Johnson had 11 kills and four blocks.

Lauren Wilson had a memorable day, winning the high jump at the PLU Opener in the morning before registering 10 kills and 15 digs in the volleyball nightcap.


Emily Dulaney netted 54 assists while Halle Hetzler finished two digs shy of a school single match record, racking up 49 on the evening.

The Lutes hit the road next weekend, facing Whitman College in Walla Walla.