(SAN MARCOS, Calif.) A day after opening its season with a three-set sweep of Chadron State, PLNU Volleyball appeared on the verge of being swept themselves at the hands of Simon Fraser on Friday afternoon.
 
But Point Loma had different ideas.
 
The Sea Lions bounced back from an 0-2 set deficit to complete a reverse sweep of the Red Leafs and win its second-straight match to start the year, prevailing in five sets (21-25, 21-25, 25-23, 25-21, 15-8).
 
SFU appeared to be on its way to a three-set sweep, leading PLNU 15-11 and 18-15 in the third. However, Point Loma forced three consecutive attacking errors, including two blocks from Avery Allemann, to tie the set back up.
 
Those two blocks were part of seven points won via blocks by the Sea Lions in the third set alone, as PLNU held SFU to a -0.03 attack % in the stanza.
 
Anna Massari's solo block, sandwiched between a pair of kills from the All-American middle blocker, gave Point Loma set point before Abigail Nua officially forced a fourth set with a kill of her own.
 
PLNU then saved its best two offensive sets of the match for the fourth and fifth, hitting .216 and then .292 respectively, while simultaneously limiting SFU to attacking marks of .172 and -0.087.
 

The Sea Lions get the victory to complete the comeback ! 🔥🔥🔥#GoSeaLions pic.twitter.com/sXskyIcePS

— PLNU Sea Lions (@PLNUSeaLions) September 6, 2024

 
A 10-10 fourth set was broken open by a 5-0 Sea Lions run, as the Red Leafs got no closer than within two points the rest of the set. Another Nua kill ultimately forced a fifth and deciding stanza, foreshadowing what proved to be a dominant final set from the All-American outside hitter.
 
Nua took over the match in the fifth, overturning Simon Fraser's 2-0 advantage with five kills as part of an 8-0 Sea Lions stretch.
 
PLNU then put the finishing touches on its reverse sweep by scoring the final three points of the fifth set, including match point when Massari and Charleston Tidwell combined for a match-ending block.
 
Nua (23) and Massari (12) reached double-digit kills for the second-straight match to start the season, helped by a career-high in assists (45) for Sophia Baugh.
 
Nua and Baugh both recorded double-doubles by adding 14 and 11 digs respectively, as PLNU had five players overall reach double digits in the category, led by Genevieve Hara's 17.
 
Allemann pitched in defensively as well with eight blocks, while Massari added four.
 
Point Loma (2-0 overall) concludes the San Diego Invite on Saturday with a 4 p.m. home match against Cal State San Marcos in Golden Gym.