(SAN DIEGO) No. 15 PLNU Volleyball swept Vanguard (25-14, 25-21, 25-20) on Thursday night to set new program records for best start to a season (18-0) and longest winning streak (18).
The win, the Sea Lions' fourth straight sweep and 13th of the season, helped Point Loma surpass its 2001 team that began that season 17-0.
With Vanguard leading 5-4 in the first set, PLNU responded with an 11-1 run, as setter
Sophia Baugh's third kill of the set forced a visiting timeout with the score 12-6 in favor of the Sea Lions.
Makenna Joyce then served back-to-back aces out of the timeout, as the hosts extended their lead to as many as 11, including when
Saren Rogers clinched the set with a kill.
The second set was tied as late as 20-20 before Point Loma scored five of the final six points of the set, with a pair of kills each from
Anna Massari and Rogers during that stretch.
Massari's service ace then tied the third set at 5 apiece, as PLNU went on a 6-0 run to take control of what proved to be the final stanza.
Point Loma led by as many as eight in the third on kills from
Abigail Nua. Consecutive kills from
Charleston Tidwell then put Vanguard on the brink before a Lions' ball handling error ultimately clinched the match for PLNU.
Nua led the team with 16 kills, followed by Rogers' 11, as Baugh dished out 34 assists.
Avery Allemann posted four blocks, while PacWest Defender of the Week Joyce tallied 19 digs.
Point Loma (18-0 overall, 12-0 PacWest) moves into a momentary tie with No. 7 Chaminade (19-4, 12-0) atop the conference standings, with CUH set to play Fresno Pacific later on Thursday, as the two teams share a four-match lead over third-placed Azusa Pacific (12-7, 8-4).
PLNU returns to Golden Gym on Friday for a 6 p.m. home match against Dominican.
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE
