BOX SCORE | PICTURES

SAN DIEGO - NAIA No. 15 Point Loma Nazarene was swept in Golden Gym Friday night by the top-ranked Sunbirds (25-16, 25-19, 25-20). The win upped Fresno Pacific's record to 20-0 overall, 11-0 in Golden State Athletic Conference competition. The Sea Lions fell to 12-8, 6-5 GSAC.

It was the 61st consecutive victory for FPU, the three-time defending national champions, and the 18th straight triumph over PLNU. The last time the Sea Lions topped the Sunbirds was back on October 25, 2003. The starting middle blocker for the then Crusaders was current PLNU head coach Rochelle Short.

Each of Friday's sets had the same theme: The Sea Lions hung tough until the midway point only to have the Sunbirds close out with a flurry.

PLNU would have been tied with FPU at the 15-15 mark in the opening set if not for a point reversal. The Sunbirds took control at that juncture and finished out on a 10-2 run.

The second stanza was similar, the Green and Gold leading by four points early until FPU reversed the momentum on the serves of Martina Gregusova and the blocking of their front line.

Set three was the closest for the longest and was tied at 18-all. Gregusova slammed a winner and Keke Wang followed with a pair of kills; however, allowing the Sunbirds to separate themselves from the PLNU.

FPU outhit the Sea Lions .274 to .132 and also had advantages in kills (48-31), digs (52-45) assists (41-30) and aces (4-1). Both teams had six blocks.

Tabitha Henken led PLNU with 15 kills and contributed 10 digs. Alyssa Dwyer added eight kills and three total blocks. Maddie Dahms was next with four winners. Aimee Bird and Natalie Hamill had 15 and 11 assists, respectively.

Wang and Gregusova paced the Sunbirds with 14 kills apiece. Lisa Shilling had nine winners. Erica Adachi served up 19 assists.

The Sea Lions host The Master's on Saturday at 3:00 pm.