Box Score

RIVERSIDE - The Point Loma volleyball team knew the opportunity that awaited them this week with longtime rivals Azusa Pacific and California Baptist on the schedule and the possibility of first place in the Pacific West Conference on the line; and in each match the Sea Lions responded valiantly. Tonight they took down the Lancers in four sets, 25-16, 25-15, 20-25 and 25-22, to claim the top spot in the conference standings.

With Point Loma's win over CBU and Dixie State's loss earlier in the day at home against Azusa Pacific, the Sea Lions remain the only undefeated team in PacWest play this season at 7-0. It was also PLNU's (13-3) fourth straight victory on the road. The loss drops Cal Baptist (9-6, 6-1 PacWest) into a three-way tie for second place in the conference with Dixie State and BYU-Hawaii.

The Sea Lions were led by Heather Leavitt's 17 kills. Kelli LeClair also added 14 and Alyssa Dwyer had 11 to lift PLNU to its first win over CBU in seven tries. Savannah Wedemeyer once again was the orchestrator to the offense with a match-high 43 assists. She also added and 17 digs for the double-double.

"This was the next big test for this team," said PLNU head coach Sarah Gustin. "We proved we could win at home but to go against another undefeated team in conference on the road for first place and this team responded."

Just as they did on Thursday against Azusa Pacific, PLNU jumped on its opponent and did not relent in any case it had the advantage. Early in the first set the Sea Lions gained a 9-4 lead and extended it to 13-6 and 22-13 before taking the opening set on the road 25-16. The story was nearly identical in the second set as PLNU had leads of 10-5, 17-9 and 22-14 before Chrisin Fisher, Wedemeyer and Leavitt each recorded a kill on consecutive serves to seal the set.

After falling short in the third set PLNU knew the fourth set would be crucial to earn the victory on the road. The teams jockeyed for position early. PLNU tied the match at 15-15 on a block by Wedemeyer and Dwyer and then rattled off four more points in a row for a lead it would never relinquish. Point Loma would go on to win that set 25-22 to close out the match in four.

"This was a huge win for our program," Gustin explained. "We are starting to respond to the pressure and it to our advantage rather than being afraid.

"I am proud of the way this team committed to what we are trying to do and our goals," said the third-year coach of the Sea Lions. "We are seeing the investment of our strategy and video sessions coming together in the games, and we are coming together more as a team."

The PLNU volleyball team will now return to San Diego to prepare for a tough test next weekend when it faces three PacWest opponents in three days. Academy of Art (6-8, 2-4 PacWest) will be get the homestand started on Thursday (Oct. 10) at 7:00 p.m. Second-place Dixie State will then come to Golden Gymnasium on Friday at 7:00 p.m., and the homestand will close out against Notre Dame de Namur (4-10, 2-4 PacWest) on Saturday at 5:00 p.m.