MCMINNVILLE, Ore. --- Linfield volleyball (7-12, 5-9 NWC) battled with the Pacific Lutheran Lutes (13-8, 11-3 NWC), taking set one and later forcing a fifth set, but ultimately coming up short in the end.
 
The Wildcats took an early 6-2 lead over the Lutes, but PLU went on a run to tie the set at 7-7. The set went back-and-forth over the next 20 points, until Katelyn Mawdsley and Araeya Watanabe helped Linfield to a four-point advantage late in the set. The Lutes tried to climb back, narrowing the Wildcat lead to two, but Mawdsley and Nora Myre put the set away with a pair of kills. Linfield took the opening set, 25-21, a first set win for a second consecutive match.
 
Pacific Lutheran started the second with energy, going up 4-0 early. The Lutes lead maintained, with the Wildcats getting as close as two as Mawdsley's kills kept the 'Cats in the set. PLU began to pull away, taking a 19-11 lead, forcing Jenna Street to take a timeout. Linfield responded with a 3-0 run, but the Lutes held off Linfield in the closing attacks, tying the match at one a-piece, 25-18.
 
Although PLU took another early lead in the third, the Wildcats clawed back thanks to an ace and a kill, giving Linfield a 5-4 lead. The two teams traded shots, with Lani Taliloa finding her stride for the 'Cats, up until a 13-13 tie. PLU gathered the momentum, taking seven of eight points to pull into a comfortable lead. The Lutes took set two, 25-18, putting the 'Cats on their heels heading into the fourth.
 
Set four was all-Linfield early, as Myre and Naia Alefaio-Foifua gave Linfield an early 6-3 lead. After the Wildcat lead grew to 10-5, PLU captured a 7-0 run, taking hold of a 12-10 lead. The 'Cats wouldn't go away, with help from Kaitlyn Hough, they tied the match back up at 18-18. Myre, Mawdsley, and Taliloa propelled the 'Cats back on top, taking a 24-19 lead with hopes of tying the match up. PLU got within three, but Tatum Montiel slammed the door shut, giving Linfield a 25-23 win in the fourth set.
 
Linfield's momentum carried into the shortened fifth set, with the 'Cats storming out to a 7-2 lead. A pair of calls being overturned went the Lutes way though, helping shift the energy back to the Lutes sideline. PLU tied it back up at 9-9, and they wouldn't look back, claiming the fifth, 15-11. 
 
Mawdsley dominated up front, tallying 15 kills, while swinging .379. Myre led the team in digs once again, totaling 20 to go with her 12 kills. While Pi'ilani Hirahara handled the setting, Millard stopped three blocks in the match. The two teams were fairly level statistically, with the difference coming in service errors, where the 'Cats has 22 to the Lutes 10.
 
The Wildcats return to action next Friday night in Newberg, taking on the George Fox Bruins at 7 p.m.
 
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