(SAN DIEGO) For the second time in program history, PLNU Volleyball has started a PacWest season a perfect 7-0.
Thanks to a four-set (25-17, 25-27, 25-16, 25-17) victory over Azusa Pacific on Tuesday night, Point Loma has set up a matchup of unbeaten with Biola (11-3 overall, 7-0 PacWest) on Thursday that will decide first place in the conference standings.
"Both teams had really great offense," Head Coach
Jonathan Scott said. "It took a while to figure them out defensively, and I think we started to do that late. Fortunately, our offense was clicking the whole time so we were able to sustain."
Anna Massari (19 kills, six blocks) and
Abigail Nua (17 kills, eight digs) led a PLNU offense that hit .354 as a team.
"It was a really clean and well-rounded match by Abi," Scott said. "This performance by Anna really is next-level as a free rotation player to have that many kills and that many blocks. She was special tonight."
In the first set, a late 6-0 run that included two
Torina Hommes service aces helped PLNU take a 1-0 overall match lead.
Then in the second, Point Loma looked to take a 2-0 lead as the Sea Lions held a 23-21 advantage following a Nua service ace. However, APU fought back to save a couple set points before leveling the match at a set apiece.
Point Loma managed to put that second-set loss in the rearview mirror with a quick start to the third, jumping out to an 11-4 advantage on a 6-0 run that included three kills from
Grace Hicks.
"We just needed to stay present," Scott said. "It's really easy to let your mind wander to the last couple of plays or the next possible couple of plays. APU is a good team and we battle with them every single time we play. We needed to battle for the point at hand."
After closing out the third set, the Sea Lions ensured that a fifth stanza wouldn't be needed, with
Bailey Williams' ace sealing the deal for PLNU.
Hommes made it three Sea Lions in double figures for kills with 10, while she and Nua led the team with a pair of aces each.
Sophia Baugh (27 assists) and
Lauren Phillips (23 assists, 11 digs) orchestrated the offense brilliantly, while
Macy Reynolds (18 digs) and Williams (12 digs) led the defense.
Point Loma (10-4 overall, 7-0 PacWest) will take on Biola on Thursday at 6 p.m. inside Golden Gym.
