SPOKANE, Wash. — Second-seeded Pacific Lutheran University volleyball team was unable to secure its second straight Northwest Conference Tournament title on Saturday evening, falling 3-0 to top-seed and nationally-ranked Whitworth University.
 
"I think it was a great season overall. We lost so many good players from last year but the growth of our team was awesome. The young players gained so much experience," said Head Coach Kevin Aoki.
 
"We're really going to miss our seven seniors that provided so much leadership to our program."

The opening set was a tight affair with a Shaela Allen-Greggs kill pulling the Lutes (19-8) within a point at 15-14. The 21st-ranked Pirates (26-2) responded with seven of the next 10 points, including four straight to increase their lead en route to a 25-21 set win. 
 
Six of the opening eight points of set two went to Whitworth but the Lutes wouldn't back down, pulling with a single point at 11-10 on a Ayre Takamoto ace and again at 16-15 on an ace from Bailey Johnson. The Pirates would answer with a 7-1 run on their way to a 25-18 set victory.

Pacific Lutheran ripped off five of the first six points in the third set only to see Whitworth take the lead with the next five points. PLU took a 10-9 edge on a Takamoto kill but the hosts would score nine of the next 10. The Lutes continued to fight, closing within two on a Whitworth attack error at 22-20 but it wasn't enough as the Pirates claimed the 25-21 set win to take the match and the NWC Tournament title.

Saturday's title match was just the second in conference history. Last season the Lutes hosted and won the inaugural tournament before advancing to the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament. 

Allen-Greggs led the Lutes with 10 kills while Julissa Pernsteiner added nine. Takamoto had 24 assists while defensively Makenna Jackson had a team-best 12 digs. PLU had eight aces on the night with four coming off the serve of Johnson.