GEORGETOWN, Texas -- Texas Lutheran recovered from a slow start and pushed the No. 3 team in NCAA Division III, the Southwestern Pirates, to four games before falling 25-8, 25-22, 22-25, 25-22 in conference play Friday evening.

At the Southwestern University Robertson Center, the Bulldogs nearly forced a fifth set with late leads in set four of 18-16, 20-19 and 21-20. The Pirates reeled off four straight points to take a 24-21 lead and closed out the match with a Piper Sisemore kill.

Southwestern improved to 19-0 overall and to 8-0 in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.

The loss moved TLU's record to 8-8 overall and to 2-6 in the SCAC.

Senior outside hitter Kristin Fording led TLU with 12 kills and 29 digs. She hit .191 and added two block assists.

Makenzie Griffin recorded six total blocks, and Kaci Pecht dished out 12 assists and had six digs with two service aces. Jaci Chambers led TLU with 17 assists, and she posted 15 digs.

Kate Mitchell led Southwestern with 17 kills. Sisemore added 12 kills. Nikki Welch delivered 43 assists and added 25 digs.

TLU continues SCAC play Saturday in Georgetown with matches against Trinity and Schreiner.