(LA MIRADA, Calif.) Biola handed PLNU Volleyball its first loss of the PacWest season on Thursday night, as the Eagles defeated the Sea Lions in four sets (22-25, 25-18, 23-25, 23-25) to spoil Point Loma's chances of clinching a first-ever PacWest title.
The loss ended PLNU's 16-match winning streak, the longest in the program's NCAA era and one shy of its all-time program record.
After dropping the first set, Point Loma bounced back with its best offensive set of the match, hitting .237 in the second.
The Sea Lions trailed 6-9 before
Sophia Baugh almost single-handedly helped PLNU go on a 6-0 run, as the freshman setter recorded a solo block, a kill, a service ace and an assist during that stretch.
That streak turned the tide in Point Loma's favor, as the Sea Lions then scored five-straight points on
Rosie Cline's serve to run away with the set.
Biola then took a pivotal back-and-forth third set that was tied as late as 22-22. A
Torina Hommes kill saved match point to cut BU's lead to 24-23 but an attacking error gave the Eagles a 2-1 match lead.
The hosts then took a commanding 21-14 advantage in the fourth, only for the visitors to score nine of the next 11 points to tie the set at 23 apiece.
However, BU took advantage of two-straight PLNU attacking errors to clinch the match in four.
Abigail Nua (15 kills, 16 digs) and Hommes (15 kills, six blocks) led the Sea Lions offense, with
Claire Smith (nine kills) nearly joining them in double figures.
Like Nua,
Sophia Baugh (22 assists, 13 digs) posted a double-double, while
Macy Reynolds led the team with 19 digs.
Maggie Wolf (16 assists) led all players with four aces.
Point Loma (19-5 overall, 16-1 PacWest) will now look to clinch at least a share of a first-ever PacWest title on Saturday at Westmont. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.
