With every game counting heavily in the GSAC standings, #15 PLNU (18-9, 8-9) was able to measure out a 3-0 win (25-21, 25-13, 25-17) Tuesday against Hope International (6-22, 2-15) at the Royals' Darling Pavilion.

Losses to HIU have been rare in the history of the two teams and the Sea Lions continued to extend their all-time record against the school, this time led by the aggressive attack of Maddie Dahms, who smashed .481 of her attempts for the match-high 14 kills.
 
The first set was not a good indicator of how the match would turn as the Royals played the Sea Lions closely and tied them at 21 points apiece before PLNU was able to pull away with a kill by Dahms and three consecutive attacking errors by HIU. 

Point Loma carried the momentum in the second after the two teams traded sides as Tabitha Henken and Chelsea Joanau paced the team with a kill each to help spur on the victory.  HIU committed multiple errors for a match-total of 28 compared to PLNU's 13.
 
The Sea Lion's offensive showcase was game three, where the team hit 20 of its 40 kills, but HIU sealed the loss with a service error to send PLNU home with a win. The hitting prowess of Dahms, Henken and Joanau combined for 16 kills in the set. 

Joanou also provided assists on four of the Sea Lions' six total blocks.  Kylie Morel contributed 26 assists and 10 of the team's 40 digs.
 
Point Loma hit a solid .367 while the Royals struggled, hitting of .139.  Hope was led by 13 kills from Naomi Iosia, but it took 36 of HIU's total 101 attacks to get there.  The Royals had no blocks and no one in double figures in their 36-dig defensive effort.
 
The Sea Lions will play their final regular season home game on Saturday against Concordia at 3:00 PM.  Earlier in the year PLNU stunned the Eagles (ranked #2 in the NAIA at the time) in a thrilling five-game match.