LA MIRADA, Calif. - The Point Loma volleyball team ran into a motivated and inspired Biola team in its final road game of the season. The Sea Lions could not overcome the hot start by the Eagles and fell in four sets.
 
Jaime Cymbaluk led PLNU with 11 kills. Flavia Virgili had 18 digs and was one of four Sea Lions in double-figures in the category. Bekah Roth and Sabrina Winslow paced Biola with 16 and 18 kills, respectively.
 
Biola came out of the locker room clicking both offensively and defensively. The Eagles held PLNU to a negative hitting percentage in the first set to jump out to the early lead. PLNU answered by hitting .333 in the second set to even the match at 1-1.
 
In the third set, PLNU once again could not find its footing early. It fell behind 8-2 and before dropping the set 25-11. In the fourth set, it looked like the Sea Lions had turned things around and were going to force a decisive fifth set after they led for nearly the entire set. However, Biola overcame deficits of 16-9 and a 21-16 to win the match in four.
 
The loss hurts a little more as Point Loma was ranked No. 10 in the latest NCAA West Region poll, which was released today (Nov. 20). The regional includes just eight teams, and PLNU was hoping to make a late run and earn an at-large bid.
 
Team Records
Point Loma (18-11, 14-7 PacWest), Biola (15-13, 12-8 PacWest)
 
PacWest Implications
The loss drops PLNU into fourth place in the PacWest standings, a half-match back of Chaminade (14-6), and a half-match up on fifth-place Hawaii Pacific (13-7). Biola is sixth in the standings at 12-8.
 
Words from coach Jonathan Scott
On lessons from the match: "We really struggled with ball control. I hope our returners learn to compete in all circumstances."
 
On Biola: "They brought it to us tonight."
 
On the final game of the regular season: "We need to play for our seniors and finish with pride."
 
Scoring Summary
Set 1: BIOLA 25, PLNU 10
Set 2: PLNU 25, BIOLA 23
Set 3: BIOLA 25, PLNU 11
Set 4: BIOLA 25, PLNU 23
 
News and Notes
> Cymbaluk has now posted double-figures in kills in a career-high six straight matches
> PLNU lost to Biola at home earlier this season in four sets
> Point Loma's plus-7 on kills-to-errors ratio was the second-lowest all season (plus-6 at APU)
> The Sea Lions had more than double the errors in the first set (11) as it had in the entire match against Chaminade (5)

Up Next
Point Loma will close out its season on Saturday, Nov. 23 against Fresno Pacific as part of the school's annual Homecoming festivities. The match will start at 2 p.m., and it will be Senior Day for the Sea Lions.