(HILO, Hawai'i) No. 16 PLNU Volleyball tied its program record with its 17th straight victory to start the season after sweeping Hawai'i Hilo (25-22, 25-20, 25-21) on Saturday.
Point Loma equals the Sea Lions' start to the 2001 season after posting its third straight sweep and seventh in its past eight matches.
In the win, outside hitter
Abigail Nua eclipsed the 1,000 kill mark for her PLNU career, doing so in less than three seasons on The Point.
She achieved the feat after recording five kills in the first set, helping the Sea Lions overcome a deficit in the opening stanza.
Hilo led 21-20 late in the first before three kills from
Anna Massari sparked Point Loma, who clinched the opening set after a service ace from
Kira Federico.
PLNU then led for the entirety of the second set, scoring the first three points and the final three points of the stanza to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
The Vulcans managed to take a 14-10 advantage in the third, only for the Sea Lions to respond with a 5-0 run on Federico's serve. Point Loma then led 22-21 and sealed the sweep with a 3-0 scoring stretch to end the set, which was clinched on a
Sophia Baugh kill.
Nua led all players with 13 kills, followed by Massari's 10. Baugh dished out 34 assists in just three sets, while
Makenna Joyce led the defense with 18 kills.
After five consecutive matches on the road, Point Loma (17-0 overall, 11-0 PacWest) returns home to Golden Gym on Thursday, when PLNU hosts Vanguard at 6 p.m. as the Sea Lions attempt to make program history.
