[Box score]

SAN DIEGO - Natalie Hamill recorded 18 assists and Kelli LeClair registered nine kills and seven digs, but it was not enough as Point Loma was beaten in three sets (25-18, 25-19, 25-14) Saturday afternoon (Nov. 3) by No. 12 Fresno Pacific University at Golden Gymnasium.

With the win, Fresno Pacific (21-2, 13-1 PacWest) remained just one match back on conference leader BYU-Hawaii in the hunt for the PacWest title. The loss dropped the Sea Lions to 9-15 overall and 5-9 in the PacWest.

The visiting Sunbirds, who posted a team attack average of .339 with 48 kills, simply had too much firepower for the Green and Gold to handle. FPU's Rupia Inck led her team with a match-high 14 kills in 39 targets.

FPU controlled the first set from the beginning behind a nearly impenetrable frontline that registered 8.5 total blocks and 13 block assists. Middle blocker Kathleen Anderson led the Sunbird's attack, notching kills on four of her five targets to give her team the 25-18 set win.

The Sea Lions kept the second set much closer, tying the score at 13-13 with a kill from sophomore Taylor Lane. But the Sunbirds slowly pulled away to win the set 25-19.

In the third set, the Sea Lions took their first lead of the match at 3-2 on an FPU attack error. But it was short-lived, as the Sunbirds retook the lead at 5-4 and never looked back, rolling to a 25-14 set win that clinched the match.

The Sea Lions, who are winless against FPU since Oct. 25, 2003, hit just .114 as a team.

Point Loma will continue their six-game homestand Wednesday Nov. 7 when they host Holy Names University. The match is slated for 7:00 p.m.