(POMONA, Calif.) A historic season for PLNU Volleyball ended on Friday in the NCAA West Regional semifinals with a four-set (25-22, 18-25, 22-25, 19-25) loss to top-seeded Cal Poly Pomona.
Coming off the team's first ever NCAA postseason victory on Thursday, a thrilling reverse sweep comeback win in the regional first round, the Sea Lions carried that momentum into Friday's semifinals by winning the first set against the Broncos.
PLNU took control late in the first, answering a 3-0 run by CPP with three-straight points of its own, as
Anna Massari's kill put the Sea Lions up 22-20. Then with Point Loma leading 23-22,
Genevieve Hara's kill gave the fourth seed set point, which was clinched following a Pomona attack error.
Point Loma led again midway through the second after
Saren Rogers' solo block. An
Abigail Nua kill made it 13-11, only for the hosts to respond by outscoring the Sea Lions 14-5 the remainder of the set to level the match.
CPP then jumped out to an early 5-2 advantage in the third to force a PLNU timeout before a Hara kill and
Macy Reynolds service ace out of the timeout got Point Loma to within one.
The Broncos threatened to run away with the third set with a 12-8 lead, but a pair of blocks and a service ace from Massari swung the momentum back in favor of the Sea Lions.
PLNU led 15-13 but Pomona went on a 7-1 run to take a 20-16 advantage. Point Loma answered back with four straight points, including back-to-back aces from Nua, to tie the third at 20 apiece. However, the Broncos scored five of the final seven points to take a 2-1 match lead.
Pomona then raced out to a 9-3 lead in the fourth before Point Loma attempted a comeback, cutting CPP's lead to two at 11-9. But that was as close as the Sea Lions got, as the Broncos clinched the match in four to end PLNU's season.
Nua led all players with 22 kills, followed by Rogers with nine. Massari posted six blocks at the net, while
Makenna Joyce recorded a season-high 24 digs.
Joyce and Nua were both named to the NCAA West Regional All-Tournament Team.
Point Loma finishes the year with a 26-2 overall record, setting a new program mark for best winning % (.929) in a single season after making a second straight regional appearance for the first time.
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE
