BOX SCORE

COSTA MESA, Calif. – After being knocked down by Vanguard in their first two sets, the Sea Lions picked themselves up and brushed themselves off to snag a 3-2 victory Tuesday night in The Pit (18-25, 24-26, 25-23, 25-22, 15-13).

The two-hour, five-set match was an unexpected come-from-behind win for Point Loma which is now riding a five-game GSAC win streak, including upsets over then No. 24 Westmont and No. 7 Concordia.

PLNU was just a step behind VUSC during the opener due to timely kills from Candace Cedarstrom, Alexandra Leja, and Jamie Heenan. By the middle of the set, the Sea Lions had to play a game of catch-up, but were never able to do so, losing 18-25.

While the second set produced the same result, Point Loma came much closer, even forcing the Lions to produce another point, 24-26. The Sea Lions may have been their own worst enemy, making a combined 10 service and attack errors throughout the frame.

However, all was not lost for PLNU. During a close third round, the Sea Lions hung on to their last life with eight kills from Tabitha Henken. They took the set 25-23 after dominating the majority of it.

The fourth set was no different than the rest: neck and neck. Points were flip-flopped consistently throughout the game, but in the end, it was Alyssa Dwyer's swinging and Natalie Hamill's serving that lead Point Loma Nazarene to the victory.

Same old tune for the fifth fight--the Lions and the Sea Lions were within tiny margins of each other. Maddie Dahms, Dwyer, and Henken guaranteed the 15-13 win for PLNU. After five close battles, Point Loma finally won the war.

The final stats for both teams were strikingly similar. Point Loma hit .223 and recorded 86 digs and nine blocks while Vanguard hit .210, had 80 ups, and eight blocks. The Sea Lions had 70 kills and the Lions had just 10 less.

Henken led the night with 27 kills, as Dwyer followed closely behind with 17. Dahms had a big night, adding 12 winners, and Destiny McIntyre and Aimee Bird shined with a combined 12 kills.

Vanguard's Heenan was the second biggest hitter of the night, with 18. Teammate Lisa Morgan mirrored Dwyer's 17 kills recorded.

Hamill had 34 assists and Bird also put up 22 sets for the Sea Lions. Nicole Eiler had 20 ups. On her heels was Henken, with 17, and Hamill and Bird chipped in 25 digs together. Dwyer led the team with 5 blocks, while McIntyre, Bird, Henken, and Marissa Ellow had two apiece.

NAIA No. 14-ranked Point Loma is now 12-6, 6-3 GSAC. The defeat puts Vanguard at 10-8, 2-7 GSAC.

The Sea Lions travel to La Mirada on Saturday, Oct 9 to take on Biola University at 7:00 pm.