FRESNO, Calif. - Torina Hommes and Madie Fox each recorded 13 kills, and Alexis Soncrant chipped in with 11, to lead the Point Loma volleyball team to a sweep at Fresno Pacific.
 
Freshman setter Claire Smith made her second straight start and dished out 43 assists over the three sets without committing an error. Courtney Dyer added 33 digs and three service aces. Grace Hicks had six blocks, including two solo blocks, to go along with her seven kills. Miska Legatova paced FPU with eight kills.
 
After posting a .268 hitting percentage to take the first set 25-20, Point Loma found itself locked in a battle for every point in the second set. The match was back-and-forth one point at a time from 21-21 to 27-27. The Sea Lions were able to break out of that pattern and earn set when Soncrant hammered down a kill to go up 28-27 and the Sunbirds' Corinne Acosta when long on her subsequent attack, giving Point Loma the second set 29-27.
 
In the third, PLNU never trailed, but neither team could find an offensive rhythm and each hit below .068 for the set. FPU cut the set to one point at 24-23, but Fox ended their hopes of a comeback with her 13th kill of the match.
 
Team Records
Point Loma (8-6, 4-2 PacWest), Fresno Pacific (2-15, 1-7 PacWest)
 
PacWest Implications
The win keeps Point Loma tied for fifth in the PacWest standings at 4-2. Chaminade continues to lead the league with a 7-0 PacWest record. Fresno Pacific is tied for Holy Names at the bottom of the conference standings at 1-7.
 
Words from coach Jonathan Scott
On the match: "Today was up and down in a few different ways, but we showed some good fight. We fought hard, stayed in it during the long rallies and won all the 'big points.'"
 
On Claire Smith: "I was very, very proud of Claire for this week in general. She stepped into a difficult scenario, and she was ready for it. She didn't back down, and I am very proud of her."
 
On the freshmen outside hitters: "Alexis and Torina both had really good moments today. They carried us at times, and that was really nice to see."

Scoring Summary
Set 1: PLNU 25, FPU 20
Set 2: PLNU 29, FPU 27
Set 3: PLNU 25, FPU 23
 
News and Notes
> Hommes has posted double-digit kills in three of the past four matches
> Smith is averaging 12 assists per set in her first two starts
> PLNU and FPU have exchanged three-match winning streaks in the series after the Sunbirds had won 19 in a row from 2002-12.
 
Up Next
Point Loma will be right back on the road as they travel to Notre Dame de Namur to face the Argonauts on Friday, Oct. 11, at 7 p.m.