(SAN DIEGO) No. 1 seed PLNU Volleyball advanced to the NCAA West Regional semifinals with an epic five-set victory (20-25, 25-15, 25-15, 19-25, 21-19) over No. 8 seed Cal State San Bernardino on Thursday night in Golden Gym.
West Region Player of the Year
Abigail Nua made a triumphant return from injury to lead the Sea Lions to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the second-consecutive year.
Playing in her first match since October 25, Nua led all players with 24 kills, including the two most important of PLNU's season.
Point Loma earned five-straight match points, but CSUSB saved each one and had match point of its own with the Yotes up 19-18 in the fifth. Nua then came up clutch with kills to tie the final stanza at 19 apiece and then to win the match on PLNU's sixth match point, ensuring the Sea Lions advanced in the regional tournament they are hosting for the first time.
Saren Rogers added 17 kills with
Jill Leslie providing 10, while
Sophia Baugh had 56 assists.
PLNU's defense had 101 digs compared to CSUSB's 82, as
Macy Reynolds (24 digs), Baugh (24 digs) and
Hailey Wilson (22 digs) each had over 20 digs.
Point Loma (25-4 overall) will play No. 5 seed Alaska Fairbanks in Friday's regional semifinals at 7 p.m.
The winner will then advance to Saturday's regional championship against either No. 3 seed Fresno Pacific or No. 7 seed Central Washington, who will face off at 4 p.m. on Friday.
POSTMATCH INTERVIEW
