PARKLAND, Wash. - For the first two sets, the 21st-ranked Puget Sound Loggers dominated but in the end, the 15th-ranked Pacific Lutheran Lutes showed that they were deserving off the higher ranking, coming back to hold off the Loggers, 3-2, in a Northwest Conference volleyball match on Wednesday evening at Olson Auditorium in Parkland, Wash.

In the first two sets, the Loggers stifled every offensive opportunity the Lutes tried to put together, making it look like the Loggers could pull off the upsets.  Forcing eight PLU attack errors in the first set alone, Puget Sound was able to collect a 25-22 victory to take the early lead.

In the second set, the Loggers have their best frame of the night as they were able to put down 12 kills with just three attack errors on 32 attempts to hit .281 and collect another 25-22 set victory to put the Lutes up against the ropes.  Coming into the match, the Lutes had only lost one frame in NWC play but the Loggers were able to push that number to three as the teams headed into the break.

Coming out of the locker rooms, Pacific Lutheran was on fire and nothing the Loggers could do could extinguish the hot hitting Lutes.  Putting up 14 kills with no errors on 28 attacks for a .500 hitting percentage, PLU cruised to the 25-14 set three victory.

In the fourth set, Pacific Lutheran again was powerful on the attack, putting down 20 kills, but the Logger defense was able to force the Lutes into making some mistakes, 10 attack errors to be exact, to keep it close.  Despite hitting .225 for the frame with 12 kills and three errors on 40 attacks, the Loggers were unable to clinch the match, dropping set four by a final of 25-21.

In the fifth and deciding set, the Loggers held the momentum early but it quickly shifted back on the Lutes' side of the court as they put down 10 kills to collect the 15-13 set five victory and the important NWC match, three sets to two.

The Loggers were led by 13 kills from Brynn Blickenstaff (Eagle, Idaho), who also added 17 digs, four aces and three solo blocks on the night.  Juliette Witous (Sonoma, Calif./Sonoma Valley) added 12 kills and nine digs while Kalli Kamphaus (Manson, Wash.) finished with 10 kills and a pair of blocks.  Senior Stephanie Harvery (Yakima, Wash./Eisenhower) put up 46 assists on the night while Leigh Sumida (Kaneohe, Hawaii/Iolani) dug out a match high 31 balls.

Pacific Lutheran was led by 19 kills from Kelcy Joynt, who also added 15 digs.  Beth Hanna finished iwth 16 kills while Kelsie Moore chipped in 13 kills and three blocks.  Sarah Beaver added 57 sets to her season totals while Brenna Archibald recorded a team-high 17 digs on the match.

The Loggers return back to Memorial Fieldhouse on Friday night when they play host to Willamette.