(SAN DIEGO) PLNU Women's Volleyball split its two matches on the final day of the Seaside Invitational, rebounding from a closely-contested three-set loss to Cal Poly Pomona (17-25, 25-27, 23-25) to defeat Simon Fraser (B.C.) in straight sets (25-18, 25-20, 25-10) Saturday evening inside Golden Gym.
 
"We were looking for a response and that's 100% what we saw," PLNU Head Coach Jonathan Scott said.
 
The Sea Lions got out to a quick start against Simon Fraser, with Claire Smith's thunderous kill setting the tone for a Point Loma offense that hit .333 in the opening set. PLNU never trailed in the set and scored five of the final six points, capped off by a combined block from Abigail Nua and Bailey Williams, to take a one-set advantage.
 
Then trailing 3-4 in the second set, Point Loma scored nine-straight points, helped by three Nua kills, to all but run away with the stanza and put Simon Fraser on the brink.
 
A 5-0 start to the third on the back of Macy Reynolds' serving kept the momentum on PLNU's side. With the tournament hosts leading by 10, 17-7, the Sea Lions went on a 6-0 run before Nua's kill clinched the victory.
 
Point Loma held Simon Fraser to a 0.069 hitting % or lower in each set, including -0.057 in the third set. The 10 points PLNU allowed in the third set are the fewest the program has allowed in a set-to-25 since Nov. 2, 2019 against Notre Dame de Namur.
 
It was exactly the type of performance the Sea Lions were looking for after being swept for the first time this season earlier in the day by Cal Poly Pomona. Despite the straight-set loss, Point Loma had its chances with three set points in the second, including double set-point while leading 24-22, and holding a 21-18 advantage in the third.
 
It was the third close loss PLNU has had this season, following a pair of five-set defeats last weekend at the Seawolf Invitational when the Sea Lions held 2-0 and 2-1 set leads to Alaska Anchorage and Emmanuel College respectively.
 
"I think that we could be 8-0 and it's hard not to think that," Scott said on the team's preseason. "I also think we could be 2-6. There were a lot of battles. I deliberately, intentionally, strategically scheduled these two tournaments with these teams in mind.
 
"Three of them were in the regional last year and several others could be. It was a pretty good, tough go at it and I'm proud of how we handled it."
 
Overall, Scott is pleased with how his team has played in its first eight matches, while acknowledging that the team still hopes to improve as the season goes along.
 
"We've played a really good brand of volleyball that's very team-oriented," Scott said. "Anyone on that court is producing at a really high level. We're asking that that can continue in the practice gym, and on any given night it can be anyone's turn."
 
The conclusion of the Seaside Invitational marks the end of the preseason for Point Loma (5-3), who will now begin PacWest Conference play starting on Friday at Academy of Art.
 
"What we just told the girls is now everyone is tied," Scott said. "Conference is starting. It's 0-0. Good, bad or ugly it's a clean slate for us all. It's time to get better."