(ELLENSBURG, Wash.) After sweeping No. 20 Western Washington its season opener on Thursday, No. 4 PLNU Volleyball suffered consecutive defeats to close out the CWU Invitational against tournament hosts RV Central Washington (21-25, 23-25, 22-25) and No. 15 Simon Fraser (25-20, 20-25, 10-25, 25-21, 8-15).
Â
Against CWU, PLNU led in the first set as late as 20-19 after a
Gianna Callari kill, but the Wildcats won six of the next seven points to take the opening stanza.
Â
Another Callari kill had the Sea Lions up 19-17 in the second set, with
Kaitlyn Cabral and
Ila Rose then later tying it at 23-23, only for the tournament hosts to go up 2-0 in the match.
Â
Rose's service ace in set three capped off a 5-0 Point Loma run that brought the Sea Lions to within one, before the Wildcats completed the sweep.
Â
PLNU responded by winning the opening set against SFU and then claimed the fourth stanza to force a deciding fifth set.
Â
The Sea Lions led 7-5 in the final stanza following a
Kyra Miles kill, but the Red Leafs then won 10 of the final 11 points to win the match in five.
Â
Miles (10 kills @ CWU, 11 kills vs. SFU) posted double-digit kills in both matches, with Callari leading the group offensively against Central Washington (11 kills) and
Hailey Clark pacing the offense versus Simon Fraser (15 kills).
Â
Kira Federico led the team in digs in both matches with 16 and 19, while
Sophia Baugh dished out 33 and 37 assists.
Baugh and Miles were both selected to the CWU Invitational All-Tournament Team.
Â
Point Loma (1-2 overall) returns home to Golden Gym to host the Seaside Invitational beginning on Thursday, when PLNU hosts Dallas Baptist at 6 p.m.
