SAN DIEGO - It was a grind and a battle all the way through the fifth set but in the end, it was Cal State LA prevailing over the Point Loma volleyball team 17-25, 26-24, 25-18, 22-25, and 15-10 at the Seaside Invitational in the season opener for both teams. (Sept. 2)
 
The Sea Lions used a collective team effort offensively to stay in the match until the very end. Four PLNU student-athletes posted nine kills and six had five or more kills. Anna Massari led the team with a .400 hitting percentage as she had just one error to go along with her nine kills in 20 attempts. Claire Smith posted nine kills of her own while also leading the Sea Lions with 17 assists. Courtney Dyer added a match-best 25 digs and Madie Fox registered four blocks.
 
Cal State LA's Karla Santos led all student-athletes with 22 kills while hitting at .365 percent. She added 15 digs for the double-double. The Golden Eagles also received double-figure kill performances from Emily Elliott (15) and Ashley Dittmann (11).
 
Point Loma began the match with incredible energy fueled by the large crowd of students to take the first set 25-17. PLNU held CSLA to a negative hitting percentage in the set (-.029) to jump out to the early lead.  The Golden Eagles responded with wins in the second and third set. The Sea Lions did not yield though and posted their most efficient set of the day as they hit .214 to take the fourth game 25-22.
 
In the fifth set, the teams traded points early and after a kill by Claire Smith, the Sea Lions trailed just 10-9. That was the time CSLA then hit its run. The Golden Eagles scored five of the final six points to win the set and the match.
 
"Cal State LA was what we expected of them after that first set," said PLNU head coach Jonathan Scott. "We kind of handed it to them in that first set and I was confused because I knew they were going to be good."
 
"After that, they turned it on, especially (Karla) Santos," he continued. "She has been good since her freshman year and that was no surprise what she did today."
 
The PLNU volleyball team will be back on the court for its second match of the Seaside Tournament. The Sea Lions will take on Regis at 5 p.m.
 
"This is the best talent we have ever had," Scott explained. "Just about every team here has the chance to win the regional and making it to the final eight. This is a very good tournament."