SAN DIEGO – Point Loma sent their seniors out in style with an exciting 4-set win over the Hawaii Pacific Sharks. After a rough start, losing set one 25-13, the Sea Lions bounced back with a 25-20 victory in set two. The Sharks would hang tough in the next two sets but the Sea Lions would secure the win with a score of 25-22 in the third and fourth sets to take the match.
Point Loma struggled to find any rhythm in the first set, they hit at a negative clip and only managed eight digs as a team. Those early struggles wouldn't phase them as they went on to battle for each point in the next set, hitting .419 and putting up a strong defensive effort. The team got out to early leads in both the third and fourth sets but they managed to hang on to their leads even as HPU threatened to come back each time.
Jaime Cymbaluk led the team with 19 kills while hitting .295 for a new career-high in kills.
Alyssa Rifilato had a solid outing with 10 kills and 14 digs, tying her season-high in digs and earning a double-double.
Cara Keturakis anchored the team from the setter position with 45 assists to go along with seven kills and seven digs.
Team Records
PLNU (11-15, 8-10 PacWest), HPU (7-19, 5-13 PacWest)
Turning Point
Down 19-18 in the second set, the Sea Lions went on a 7-1 run to win the set and even the match at one set a piece.
PacWest Implications
The Sharks drop to 5-13 in PacWest play and sit at 12
th in the rankings. The Sea Lions are now 8-10 on the season, if they can win out they could end the season .500 in PacWest play.
Scott's Thoughts:
Coach Scott was unavailable for comment at the time of this release.
Scoring Summary
Set 1: HPU 25, PLNU 13
Set 2: PLNU 25, HPU 20
Set 3: PLNU 25, HPU 22
Set 4: PLNU 25, HPU 22
News and Notes
> The team had 9.0 total blocks on 16 block assists and one solo block.
> The Sea Lions are now 3-1 in their last four matches, all at home.
>
Alyssa Rifilato's double-double was the first for her career.
> Rifilato also led the team in hitting percentage at .320.
Up Next
The Sea Lions will be on the road for their final two games of the season. The team will be on the road at Academy of Art on Friday at 2 p.m. and then will play at Dominican (CA) at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
