The Point Loma volleyball team grinded out a four-set victory over Academy of Art on Wednesday, Oct. 14, defeating the Urban Knights 25-23, 18-25, 25-14 and 25-21.
The victory puts PLNU back in the win column. The Sea Lions are now 9-8 on the season and 4-5 in the PacWest Conference. The loss drops ART to 6-10 (2-6 PacWest).
PLNU was outhit by ARTU .185 to .182, and had 43 hitting errors to the Urban Knights’ 36, but they found a way to win. Heather Leavitt posted another double-double for the Sea Lions with a team-leading 16 kills to go along with 14 digs. Kelli LeClair stepped up big with a team-high .367 hitting percentage and matched her season-high with 13 kills, while making only two errors. Bethany Mandon added 11 kills and three blocks from her middle blocker position. Savannah Wedemeyer added 41 assists and six kills in the winning effort. Christin Fisher stepped up with a team-leading 16 digs.
Stine Raben paced the Urban Knights with a match-high 19 kills. Melissa Brum also added 15 kills and Safua Elisaia had six blocks.
“This was really bizarre match,” said Point Loma head coach Jonathan Scott. “Both teams never really got into a groove and the match turned into one of will and resilience. We were able to step up at the end and I was very happy about that.”
Point Loma will have a very short rest as they will return to the court Oct. 15 to host Dominican (CA) at 7 p.m.
“For whatever reason people think volleyball is easy on the body so they schedule matches back-to-back,” added Scott. “It is the same for both teams but it is very difficult. With these matches there is a lot of personally responsibility on the girls to eat well and take care of their bodies.”
The Oct. 15 match will also be a Power Night to celebrate the women of PLNU and the volleyball team’s annual Dig Pink match to raise funds and breast cancer awareness.
“Dig Pink has been a really cool think that has become a part of the college volleyball culture during the month of October,” said Scott. “You can go from gym to gym at the NCAA or NAIA levels and you will find teams wearing pink and holding fundraisers. It is something volleyball has really grabbed ahold of and it is fun to be a part of something like that.”