PLNU advances to Division III national semifinals in women’s volleyball

Third-seeded Point Loma Nazarene University rallied from early deficits in the first two games to sweep sixth-seeded Bentley in straight sets Thursday afternoon. The Sea Lions advance to Friday’s semifinals of the NCAA Division II Women’s Volleyball Championships.

PLNU (28-4) will face second-seeded Concordia-St. Paul (30-5) at 2 p.m. Friday in the semifinals in Sioux Falls, S.D. CSP eliminated Gannon 3-1 by scores of 25-10, 27-29, 25-15, 25-12.

PLNU defeated Bentley (27-5) by scores of 25-16, 25-21 and 25-16.  Bentley held an early 6-2 lead in the opening game and led 8-2 early in the second match. PLNU never trailed in the third set.

“We faced Bentley a couple months ago, and that worked to our advantage,” said coach Jonathan Scott after PLNU reached the national semfinals for the first time in school history. “I saw some nerves early and knew it would smooth out.”

Sophomore outside hitter Saren Rogers from Victory Christian Academy led the Sea Lions in scoring with 14½ points off 14 kills and a block. Freshman middle blocker Kyra Miles from Helix High School had 11½ points off eight kills and five blocks. Senior outside hitter Abigail Nua had seven kills and three blocks for 8½ points.

Freshman middle blocker Hailey Clark had eight points off six kills, two digs and two blocks. Graduate middle blocker Jill Leslie had 7½ points off six kills and three blocks. Junior setter Sophie Baugh had seven points off three kills, two blocks, nine digs and 34 assists. Senior libero Macy Reynolds had 17 digs and freshman defensive specialist Hailey Wilson had 11.