PORTLAND, Ore. - The Lewis & Clark volleyball team put up a fight against the 16th ranked team in the nation on Friday night. Despite their best efforts the Pioneers fell 3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-21) to the Pacific Lutheran Lutes in Northwest Conference action. 

The loss drops the Pioneers to 8-7 on the season and 2-4 in conference play, while the Lutes improve to 11-3 overall and 4-1 in the NWC. 

Senior Kataleya Milan was the Pioneers offensive leader, ending the game with a match-high 16 kills for a .244 attacking percentage. Milan also finished with three blocks and eight digs. Tessa Belanger also had three blocks for the Pioneers, while Isabel Valentine ended the match with a match-high four blocks. Emily Drake had 17 assists for Lewis & Clark, while Vanessa Hall picked up 12. Alexe Navarro concluded her night with a match-high 22 digs. 

Kylai Cooley had a team-high 10 kills for the Lutes, while Lucy Capron had nine. Samantha North led all players with 33 digs and Amber Agular ended the night tied with Navarro with a match-high 22 digs. 

Playing the 16th best team in the nation did not phase the Pioneers who battled for every point in all three sets. The Lutes pulled ahead 10-4 at the start of the first set, but Lewis & Clark quickly fought its way back. A kill by Brigitte Russo made it 16-13, before back-to-back Lute errors pulled the Pioneers within a point at 16-15. Pacific Lutheran found a way to pull away from Lewis & Clark moments later courtesy of a couple kills by Capron and Pioneer errors. 

The second set was just as competitive as the first with the Pioneers keeping up with the Lutes the throughout the set.

The final set proved to be the most exciting of the match with Lewis & Clark giving it everything. Trailing 18-13 the Pioneers went on a 5-0 run that tied the contest for the first time all day. The run was sparked by a Milan kill, followed by two Lute errors and back-to-back Milan aces. Pacific Lutheran recaptured the lead on the next play and did just enough to hang on for the win.   

The Pioneers return to the court on Friday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. at Whitman.