SAN DIEGO - It was nearly the perfect night in Golden Gymnasium. The Point Loma students packed the house and helped set a new attendance record for PLNU at the NCAA level as they watched their Sea Lion volleyball team sweep longtime Azusa Pacific, 25-15, 25-23 and 25-21 (Sept. 30) to kick off #BeatAPU Week.
 
The victory moves PLNU (7-5) to 2-2 in the PacWest Conference. This was the first loss in conference play for the Cougars which slipped to 7-5 on the season and to 3-1 in the PacWest. BYU-Hawaii (3-0) and Hawaii Pacific (4-0) are the only teams not to have a loss in conference.
 
Over 400 students packed the PLNU student section, many wearing their BEAT APU t-shirts, to cheer on their Sea Lions, which put together their best match of the season tonight. PLNU posted a .352 hitting percentage (second-best mark of the season) while holding APU to just a .155 hitting percentage. PLNU had just 10 errors to go along with 48 kills, while Azusa Pacific made 16 errors along with their 33 kills.
 
Heather Leavitt led the efficient attack. She posted a match-high 17 kills and had just three errors for a .424 hitting percentage.  Bethany Mandon was even more efficient with 13 kills and just two errors for a season-best .550 hitting percentage.
 
"We worked on our offense these last two weeks and it is nice to see a noticeable improvement in the areas we worked on," Point Loma head coach Jonathan Scott said. "When Heather gets it going I'm not sure if anyone can stop her."
 
Dishing out the assists all night was Savannah Wedemeyer. The senior had 39 assists in the three sets and added three kills and a .429 hitting percentage. Christin Fisher paced the club with 16 digs. Mandon added three blocks.
 
"(The hitting percentage) is the first thing I look at because we have been working on that," Scott explained. "A couple of the other categories we have to focus on but we are working hard and competing well. When you can do both those things well you are going to be in good places."
 
No APU student-athlete had double-figure kills. Mattie Shelford led the way with nine.
 
The official attendance tonight was 547, which set the mark for the best attended volleyball match for PLNU in the regular season and since joining the NCAA.
 
"It was really cool to see the school spirit and receive that support from the student body today," Scott said. "They definitely make a difference for us, and if you are reading this 'keep coming.'"
 
Fans will have to wait till next Monday when the Sea Lions start their six-match homestand to see the PLNU volleyball team at home. This Saturday they will travel to Fresno Pacific to face the Sunbirds in a PacWest showdown at 3:00 p.m.
 
"The road is always a difficult thing, especially in this conference," added Scott. "Fresno Pacific has a very historic tradition and it not a match we can overlook. We are going to have to get in next-match focus right away."