WALLA WALLA, Wash.  Friday evening's battle between the Northwest Conference's two second-place teams in the league's volleyball standings -- Whitman College and visiting Pacific Lutheran University -- had all the makings of an expected back and forth affair. It didn't disappoint but the home team eventually came out on the wrong end of the night as the Lutes finished off a 3-1 victory by taking the final two games of the match.

Whitman (6-7, 3-2 NWC) wasn't at its strongest in the night's early going, falling behind 8-1 while the initial referee's whistle seemed to still be ringing in the Sherwood Athletics Center. The PLU (6-7, 4-1) lead grew to as many as 11 before Whitman finally found its footing to drop the opening game by a count of just 25-19.

The momentum from the end of that first game rolled into the second as Whitman never trailed in a 25-17 win that squared the match.

It was in the middle of the third game when the advantage may have finally tilted in one direction for good.

Whitman led 14-13 in the third but a 5-0 spurt by the Lutes provided the visitors with the edge, one that was soon followed by a 4-0 run that closed out the game and lifted PLU ahead in the match.

Twice in the early moments of the fourth game Whitman inched ahead but both times PLU answered back. It was another 5-0 spurt from the Lutes when the game was tied at 5-5 that seemed to doom the rallying efforts, and PLU was able to finish off the match victory with a 12-point win in the deciding game.

Whitman wasn't without its stars on the night as Katie Sisson registered a team-best 11 kills, the fourth match this season in which she's reached double-figures on the attack. Net play was also strong on the defensive side as Natalia Zea, Brooke Randall and Megan Henry each came away with three block assists.

Anna Dawson continues to dish it out, putting up a match-high 27 set assists for Whitman.

Whitman will try to stay near the top of the league standings Saturday when conference leader University of Puget Sound hits the floor of the Sherwood Center for a 5 p.m. match.