(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) No. 25 PLNU Volleyball completed the opening weekend of PacWest play unbeaten with a four-set road victory (25-23, 25-21, 19-25, 25-21) over Westmont on Saturday afternoon.
 
"Today wasn't our best effort, but we still mustered enough to get the win," Head Coach Jonathan Scott said. "Westmont played great and pushed us."
 
Point Loma hit .349 in the first set, taking control of the opening stanza with a 7-0 run that gave the Sea Lions an 18-14 advantage. Westmont then saved three set points to get to within one before Genevieve Hara's kill put PLNU up in the match, 1-0.
 
The Warriors then jumped out to a 12-4 lead in the second set, only for the Sea Lions to storm back by scoring the next seven points, with a pair of aces from Abigail Nua and two kills from Saren Rogers.
 
Two more kills from Rogers in quick succession then gave Point Loma its first lead of the second stanza. The teams then traded 4-0 runs before the Sea Lions grabbed control of the set late, with Nua's kill and a Westmont attacking error putting the Warriors on the brink.
 
The hosts managed to prolong the match with another quick start in the third, leading 12-5, and ultimately forcing a fourth set.
 
The tide then turned back in PLNU's favor in the fourth, however, as it was Point Loma who raced out to an 8-1 advantage. The Warriors battled back to get to within one, but it wasn't enough as a Rogers kill and combined block from Anna Massari and Hara clinched the victory for the Sea Lions.
 

No. 25 PLNU Volleyball finishes opening weekend of PacWest play unbeaten after a four-set road win at Westmont.#GoSeaLions pic.twitter.com/MJTMU6TmuD

— PLNU Sea Lions (@PLNUSeaLions) September 21, 2024

 
Nua and Rogers led the team with 15 kills apiece, while Massari added 12 kills of her own. Sophia Baugh nearly matched her career high in assists with 43, while Hara (four aces) and Nua (three aces) were both stellar from the service line.
 
Defensively, Massari led all players with five blocks, as did Makenna Joyce in digs with 15. Baugh (13 digs) and Nua (11 digs) both recorded double-doubles.
 
Point Loma (8-0 overall, 2-0 PacWest) continues PacWest play on Thursday with its conference home opener against Concordia. First serve in Golden Gym is scheduled for 6 p.m.
 
"I'm excited to get a couple days of rest and regroup for another tough week next week," Scott said.