SAN MARCOS, Calif. – Point Loma opened the 2018 season at Cal State San Marcos as part of their Cougar Classic. In the first match of the tournament, the Sea Lions faced the host team falling 3-2 in a five-set battle.
 
After PLNU took set one, the Cougars found their offensive rhythm having their two best offensive performances in the second and third sets. Point Loma had 18 kills with a .33 hitting percentage to take the fourth set and force a decisive fifth set. With the Sea Lions up 14-11 in set five the Cougars held off three match points with a 5-0 run to take the set and match.
 
Cara Keturakis was quick to form in the season opener as she tallied another triple-double with 36 assists, 10 kills, and 10 digs. Sophomore Jaime Cymbaluk led the offense for Point Loma, she notched 14 kills, nine digs, and five aces. Kayla Chapman came up big on the block, tallying eight total blocks on the game to go along with nine kills and six digs.  
 
Team Records
PLNU (0-1), CSUSM (1-0)
 
Turning Point
Down 14-12, the Cougars came up with a huge block to swing the momentum in their favor and build to a 5-0 run to take the match.

Scoring Summary
Set 1: PLNU 25, CSUSM 19
Set 2: CSUSM 25, PLNU 15
Set 3: CSUSM 25, PLNU 18
Set 4: PLNU 25, CSUSM 18
Set 5: CSUSM 16, PLNU 14

News and Notes
>This was Keturakis' fourth career triple-double.
>Rachael Schlect, Courtney Dyer, Celeste Friesen, and Kayla Chapman all saw the court in their first action as a Sea Lion.
>Celeste Friesen took on the role of libero in her first match, tallying 17 digs and seven assists.
>Chapman's eight total blocks were more than any Sea Lion had in a game last season.
 
Up Next
The Sea Lions play again today at 4 p.m., facing the sixth-ranked Lewis Flyers.