SAN RAPHAEL, Calif. – In their final match of the season the Sea Lions were on the road to face the Penguins of Dominican University (CA). The team put up great a fight in a close match, but the Penguins were able to close out the close sets with a 3-0 victory over Point Loma. Both the first and second sets would go extra points, the Penguins took the first set 29-27. After PLNU had a 24-22 lead in the second set, the Penguins would come back and take the set 28-26. With the momentum in their favor the Penguins sealed the match with a 25-22 third set win.
 
The Sea Lions put together a solid performance but the Penguins defense kept Point Loma from putting the ball away on several occasions. Alyssa Rifilato led the team in kills with 10, but the offensive attack of PLNU was balanced with three other players with at least eight kills. Cara Keturakis notched another double-double with 34 assists and 11 digs, bringing her season total to 11.
 
Team Records
PLNU (12-16, 9-11 PacWest), DUC (10-18, 9-11 PacWest)
 
Turning Point
With the Sea Lions up 24-22 in the second set, the Penguins won the next three points to take the set to extra points and eventually got the win to take a 2-0 set lead.
 
PacWest Implications
Both teams finish 9-11 in conference play which ties them for ninth place in the conference.
 
Scott's Thoughts:
On the total team effort: "The effort was there but it didn't seem like the focus or execution were there. I think there was a lot of emotion going on, knowing it was the final match, it was tough for us to get over that emotion."

On facing the tough defense of Dominican: "Dominican played very, very hard and they kept the ball alive. They did a good job and we were unable to keep focused in the right areas."

On seeing growth in his young team this season: "That's an excuse we have tried to prove wrong all year. We were a young team, we tried to push that idea away, acknowledge it and move forward anyway. We've learned a lot, we've grown a lot, there is definitely an exciting future and the program is headed absolutely in the right direction."
 
Scoring Summary
Set 1: DUC 29, PLNU 27
Set 2: DUC 28, PLNU 26
Set 3: DUC 25, PLNU 22


News and Notes
> Holley Persson added 19 digs to give her a season total of 595 digs on the season, this is good enough for third all-time in Sea Lions history. 
> Alyssa Rifilato led the team in kills for just the second time this season. 
> Cara Keturakis finished third for assists per set in the conference with 9.36.
> Holley Persson finished the season with 5.72 digs per set, good enough to lead the conference. 
> Julia Malinas finished the season ranked second in the conference for aces per set at .43 per set. 
 
Up Next
This was the last match of the season for the Sea Lions.