No. 8-ranked PLNU handled Olivet Nazarene University in three sets (25-21, 25-17 and 26-24) to improve to 8-0 on the season.The match was the second of the day for the Sea Lions at the Crowne Plaza Labor Day Festival Tournament held at Vanguard and Concordia in Orange County.
 
The Sea Lions tallied 45 kills to hit .214 as a team, besting the Tigers' 37. PLNU also out-dug ONU 48-47 but lost the block battle 5-4.
 
The Tigers kept stride with the Sea Lions in the first set, losing by only four. PLNU had a strong second, but had a close call in the third. ONU nearly forced the Sea Lions to a fourth set, as Point Loma had to total 26 for the win.
 
Alyssa Pitkin led the Sea Lions' arsenal in offense and defense in the afternoon game, firing off 17 kills and contributing 13 digs. Tabitha Henken still managed double digits with 11 kills and nine digs, Chelsea Joanou hit seven kills and Maddie Dahms had six. Kylie Morel had more assists than the entire Tigers lineup, setting for 40 of the 43 total. ONU had 37 assists.
 
The Tigers (3-4) stayed in the single digits in kills, led by Terese Byrne and Sara Byrne who had eight apiece, followed by Stephanie Smith with seven. DeeAnn Garvin was an important factor on defense with 15 digs.
 
The Sea Lions play Carroll at 5 p.m. in Costa Mesa, their final match of the weekend.