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SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The No. 14-ranked Sea Lions notched a win in the 2010 season opener in Golden Gymnasium on Wednesday, defeating Viterbo (WI) in straight sets (25-22, 25-19, 25-23). PLNU proved resilient, fighting back from late deficits in two of the three sets.

“Viterbo is a good team and a great first match for us,” said PLNU coach Rochelle Short. “I was impressed with our team coming from behind and winning the match in three. Hopefully this sets the tone for what we are going to see in the GSAC.”

Point Loma rolled out to a 6-1 lead in the opening set and seemed in control until a late surge by the Hawks pulled the visitor's to just three at 23-20. A winner by freshman Alyssa Dwyer got the Sea Lions to set point but Viterbo clawed back with two points before PLNU closed out the first.

The second was a tossup throughout. Even at 11-all, the Hawks went on a run and were up by five points at 19-14 before a kill by Tabitha Henken stopped the bleeding. PLNU sophomore Natalie Hamill came in to serve and didn't leave until 11 consecutive Sea Lions points later and a 25-19 set two win.

“We were down when I went in to serve,” said Hamill. “I was told to serve hard. I did my best and we got the win. It proved that we have fight in us.”

Hamill was in the middle of a PLNU run in the third set that saw PLNU shake off a two-point deficit. The third was see-saw all the way through, no team leading my more than three points. The Sea Lions ended the day's competition when Henken slammed down kill number 20.

Henken hit .442 to lead PLNU and also had five digs. Alyssa Pitkin added 10 winners and nine digs with Maddie Dahms and Dwyer adding six and five kills respectively. Junior transfer Aimee Bird impressed with 21 assists and nine kills. Hamill had 12 assists and two aces. Nicole Eiler chipped in with eight digs.

PLNU outhit the Hawks by a slim .263 to .255 margin though they had a good advantage in kills (48-36). Viterbo punished at the net, blocking nine shots to just three from the Green and Gold. Doing much of the damage for the Hawks was Ericka Willadsen who had six total blocks. Jenna Laue and Amy Braaksma led the Hawks with eight kills apiece.

The Sea Lions take a few days off before hosting the Seaside Invitational presented by Bartell Hotels. The 14-team, two day event begins on Friday and lasts through Saturday. PLNU's first game is at 4:00 pm Friday against Hannibal-LaGrange (MO).