SAN DIEGO - The Point Loma volleyball team avenged its straight-set loss from earlier in the season with a four-set victory over Hawaii Pacific on Monday, Nov. 11.
PLNU started the match on fire. The Sea Lions hit .424 in the first set and .318 in the second while holding HPU to a .098 hitting percentage, to take a 2-0 lead. In the third set, Hawaii Pacific's percentage only improved to .145, but it was able to put down 15 kills to cut the Sea Lions' lead to 2-1. At that point, PLNU put its foot down and did not even give the Sharks a glimmer of hope in the fourth set. The Sea Lions jumped out to a 12-3 lead and cruised to the 25-15 win to seal the match.
Madie Fox led all student-athletes with a match-high 13 kills and six blocks.
Jaime Cymbaluk added 11 kills and four blocks of her own.
Torina Hommes and
Alexis Soncrant each chipped in with 10 kills, and
Grace Hicks hit .368 to go along with her nine kills.
Cara Keturakis posted 48 assists, 10 digs, five kills and five blocks in the win.
Courtney Dyer came through with 30 digs to lead the defensive effort.
Hawaii Pacific duo of Perla Escobar and Cameryn Collie came into the contest averaging a combined 7.2 kills per set, and PLNU limited them to two full kills below their average (5.2). Escobar had a team-high 11 kills, and Collie had 10 but hit .000 in the process.
Team Records
Point Loma (17-9, 13-5 PacWest), Hawaii Pacific (17-8, 13-4 PacWest)
PacWest Implications
The win pulled PLNU to within a half-game of Hawaii Pacific and Chaminade for third place in the PacWest standings. APUS continues to remain atop the conference. The Cougars hold a 2.5 game lead on PLNU, and a 1.5 game lead on Hawaii Hilo, with four games left to play.
Words from coach Jonathan Scott and the student-athletes
Scoring Summary
Set 1: PLNU 25, HPU 21
Set 2: PLNU 25, HPU 17
Set 3: HPU 25, PLNU 21
Set 3: PLNU 25, HPU 15
News and Notes
> Point Loma has defeated HPU six straight times in Golden Gym dating back to 2013
> Cymbaluk has now posted double-figures in kills in three straight matches for the first time this season
> Point Loma has hit over .240 in all five matches on the homestand
> PLNU outblocked Hawaii Pacific 11-3
Up Next
Point Loma will continue its homestand against Hawaii Hilo on Wednesday, Nov. 13. The Sea Lions will close out the week against Chaminade on Thursday, Nov. 14. Both matches will begin at 7 p.m.
