SAN DIEGO - The Point Loma women's volleyball team earned its first sweep of the season by taking down Holy Names 25-16, 25-16 and 25-20 on Dig Pink Night at Golden Gymnasium (Oct. 14).
 
The Sea Lions (7-10) have now won four of their last five matches to move into sixth place in the PacWest standings at 5-3. The loss drops Holy Names to 1-17 (0-10 PacWest).
 
The Sea Lions were able to get their first sweep of the season thanks to all aspects of their game finally clicking in succession. PLNU hit .293 in the match and held HNU to a .120 hitting percentage. Point Loma was over .243 in all three sets, and even hit .385 in the opener. Meanwhile, HNU had two sets of hitting at .067 or below. Point Loma also had seven aces, compared to one for the Hawks.
 
"There is a first time of everything," said coach Jonathan Scott about the sweep with a smile. "We worked on some things this week and implemented it very well in this match."
 
Ashlynn Fresques hit .462 with eight kills and just two errors in 13 swings to lead the Sea Lions. She also added 10 digs. Brianna Sizemore paced PLNU with nine kills. Christin Fisher registered 12 digs to close within 37 of breaking the school record. Cara Keturakis dished out 34 assists in the three sets.
 
"I'm a little bummed we didn't hit over .300 because we had a very steady match," added Scott. "Our offense clicked very well. Our passing and setting was very good and the approaches by our hitters reflected what we had implemented in practice during the week."
 
The Sea Lions played one of their best games of the season in front of its largest crowd of the year. Many PLNU students were clad in pink for Dig Pink Night and some of the Point Loma volleyball student-athletes were joined on the court for pregame introductions with family members as part of Point Loma's Family Weekend.
 
"It is a really big month for the volleyball community," Scott explained. "Volleyball has completely embraced breast cancer awareness by wearing pink and really getting the message out there. It is something we take pride in. It has been really cool these over these past few years how much our campus has embraced it."
 
Point Loma will now head on the road for four straight matches. It will start its road trip against California Baptist tomorrow night (Oct. 15) at 7 p.m. CBU is second in the PacWest at 8-1 (13-4 overall).
 
"We have to play really hard and see how it goes, I believe we are ready," Scott said. "We have been in a battle ever match and I don't think it will be any different tomorrow night."  
 
The Sea Lions will then go to Hawaii to face three opponents over the course of four days (Oct. 21-24).