(SAN DIEGO) The Battle of the Unbeatens lived up to its billing on Friday night in a matchup between two undefeated teams in PacWest play both ranked in the Top-13 nationally.
 
In a tightly contested match that went four sets, No. 7 Chaminade edged No. 13 Point Loma (25-16, 20-25, 25-23, 25-21) to hand the Sea Lions their first loss of the season and give the Silverswords the edge in the PacWest title race.
 
PLNU entered as one of only two remaining undefeated teams in NCAA Division II, with its longest winning streak and best start to a season in program history.
 
Chaminade started strong and ran away with the first set, but Point Loma responded in the second to level the match.
 
With the Silverswords leading 6-5 early in the second stanza, the Sea Lions went on a 6-0 run to take control following a Makenna Joyce service ace and a pair of kills each from Anna Massari and Saren Rogers during that stretch.
 
PLNU led by no fewer than three the rest of the set, as Genevieve Hara finished off the second with a kill.
 
The Sea Lions carried their momentum into the third, jumping out to a quick 3-0 lead. The visitors gained back momentum, however, by scoring 10 out of 11 points to go up by as many as six.
 
Strong serving from Macy Reynolds then tied the set back up before back-to-back service aces from Joyce restored the lead for Point Loma.
 
Massari's kill later tied the set at 23-23, only for Chaminade to take a 2-1 match lead following a kill and block to close out the third.
 
PLNU looked intent on forcing a deciding fifth stanza, controlling most of the fourth and leading 17-12. However, CUH fought back to take the lead and with the set tied at 20 apiece, the Silverswords scored five of the final six points to clinch the victory.
 
Nua led the Sea Lions with 16 kills, while Massari added 10 on an efficient .529 attack %.
 
Massari also led the team with three blocks and tied Joyce for the team lead with three aces. Nua paced the squad with 10 digs, while Sophia Baugh (40 assists) and Joyce added nine digs apiece.   
 
Point Loma (22-1 overall, 16-1 PacWest) now trails Chaminade (25-4, 18-0) by 1.5 matches in the PacWest standings with three left to play in the regular season.
 
PLNU has a quick turnaround before hosting Jessup on Saturday in Golden Gym at 2 p.m.
 
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE