PLNU fell to top-ranked and undefeated Fresno Pacific in straight sets Wednesday afternoon in NAIA Pool Play action (25-22, 25-12, 25-21). Point Loma, ranked No. 15 falls to 21-12 on the season.
The Sunbirds improved to 34-0.
The Sea Lions meet up with St. Ambrose on Thursday at 11:00 am (PST) for the team's final pool play contest. PLNU topped Olivet Nazarene on Tuesday so a win against St. Ambrose (assuming FPU beats Olivet) will send the green and gold into the tournament's final 12 and into the championship bracket. If ONU were to upset FPU, tiebreakers would determine which team advances.
The Sea Lions trailed from the start of the first set, staying within a few points all the way to set-point. With PLNU down by two, Sunbird Michelle Johnson smashed a winner to claim a 1-0 lead.
Point Loma was shaken in the second, as FPU got an early 4-1 lead. The Sea Lions came as close as 11-10, but the Sunbirds quickly turned things around to make it 16-11.
Tabitha Henken added the final point PLNU in the set to make it 16-12. Fresno Pacific controlled the remainder of the set, scoring nine consecutive points – the first two on Sea Lions attack errors, the final seven on kills – to bring it to 2-0.
FPU was poised to cruise into another easy set with a 16-10 lead in the third, but the Sea Lions weren't going to give up their third straight loss to the Sunbirds without a fight. Kills from Henken and
Maddie Dahms helped the Sea Lions hold Fresno Pacific at match-point and get within three, but a kill from Ke Ke Wang dealt the PLNU its first loss in the national tournament.
With 13, Henken was the only Sea Lion in double digits in kills.
Kylie Morel set up 20 assists and had eight digs. Libero
Nicole Eiler had 10 digs.
FPU's Martina Gregusova matched Henken's 13 kills, and Michelle Johnson was next for the Sunbirds with 11. The Sunbirds were more effective on defense, as Mariah Mendelbaum had 17 digs, Tiffany Marinos had 15 and Gregusova had 14. Emily Carroll and Erica Adachi split setting duties with 24 and 18 assists, respectively.
The defending national champion Sunbirds take on Olivet Nazarene on Thursday.
