Tabitha Henken smashed down 28 winners and had five total blocks to lead NAIA No. 15 PLNU over No. 11-ranked Vanguard 3-1 Tuesday night (22-25, 25-18, 28-26, 25-22). The Sea Lions are now 19-10 overall, 9-10 in Golden State Athletic Conference play.

PLNU's win avenges a loss earlier in the year, in San Diego, that VUSC handed the Sea Lions. If the currently seventh-place Sea Lions qualify for nationals, the win might help the team's seeding.

The Lions fell to 16-12, 10-9 GSAC.

Maddie Dahms chipped in with 12 winners for PLNU. Chelsea Joanou had four total blocks. Both setters: Kylie Morel and Natalie Hamill had 23 assists. Libero Nicole Eiler added a team-best 26 digs.

VUSC had a trio players who reached double-figure kills. Kelsey Wirt and Heather Dejough each with 14 winners and Jessica Roy with 10. Meghan Walsh had 49 assists and 10 digs.

The home team Lions had the advantage for most of the first set and ended up winning by three. The Sea Lions came right back with a convincing seven-point win in set two and then went ahead 2-1 after winning the second in extra-points. Both teams had set point in the second but a Henken kill and an ace from the outside hitter gave PLNU the win.

The third set wasn't as close as the final score indicated as PLNU went ahead  by as many as six points. Vanguard closed the gap to 22-19, but that was as close as they could get to the visiting Sea Lions.

PLNU hit .214 and held VUSC to .181 hitting. Vanguard edged the Sea Lions in blocks 9-8 and out dug PLNU 74-68. The Sea Lions had nine aces, led by four from Ashley Romberg. Henken added two aces to her impressive statline.

The Sea Lions wrap up the regular season with a match at Biola this Saturday starting at 7:00 pm.