TACOMA, Wash. — Julissa Pernsteiner tallied double digit kills for the fifth time this season but it wasn't enough in a battle between Northwest Conference heavyweights on Tuesday afternoon as the Pacific Lutheran University volleyball team fell 3-0 (25-23, 25-17, 25-22) to crosstown rival University of Puget Sound.
 
The two teams entered the night in a three-way tie for first place in the NWC standings with defending champion Whitworth University. 
 
The host Loggers (7-5, 3-0 NWC) took the opening set by the slimmest of margins, squeaking out the 25-23 set win. The set was tied at three before UPS ran off the next five points. The Logger advantage mushroomed to 18-10 before the Lutes (4-6, 2-1 NWC) clawed back, scoring the next five points. PLU whittled the gap to just two at 21-19 and a block by Haley Goto and Samia Rudd made it 24-23 before a Lute service error sealed the set for the home side.
 
A Goto kill opened the second set but the Loggers tallied eight of the next nine. The Lutes narrowed the deficit to just two at 15-13 on a Macy Matsushima ace but was unable to get any closer as Puget Sound took the second by a 25-17 scoreline.
 
Puget Sound raced out to a 6-1 lead in the third but the Lutes battled back, tying the match at 11 on a Logger attack error before taking the lead for the first time at 13-12 on a Samia Rudd kill. Puget Sound took a timeout and answered by retaking the lead. The Loggers would hold a lead the rest of the way, earning a 25-22 set win to sweep the match. 

"UPS forced us into making some unforced errors and still two of the three sets were decided by a total of five points. We will bounce back Saturday at Willamette," said Head Coach Kevin Aoki. 
 
Julissa Pernsteiner led the Lutes with 10 kills, registering double digit kills for the fifth time this season and the first time in a three-set match. Shaela Allen-Greggs added a half dozen while Ayre Takamoto setup the offense, collecting 23 of the night's 25 assists. Macy Matsushima led the defense with 16 kills. 
 
The Lutes are back on the court on Saturday, making the first of three trips to Oregon when they head to Salem to face Willamette University. First serve is set for 6 p.m.