As the fall sports season draws nearer to its end, Point Loma Nazarene University’s teams are in a good position to close the season out strong.
Cross country
The PLNU cross country team has had one of its better seasons in recent history. The Sea Lions finished second at the PacWest Championships, marking five straight seasons in which they’ve improved in placement from the year prior. They followed that up with a sixth-place finish at NCAA West Regionals, an improvement from seventh last year. Fourth-year Maddie Reeves finished fourth individually and broke her own PLNU 6K record for the third time this year, posting a time of 20:32.82. With that, she punched her ticket as a national qualifier and will race in the championships on Nov. 22 in Kenosha, Wis. Fourth-year Zaila Smith has also had a very solid year and finished 10th individually at the PacWest Championships.
Men’s soccer
PLNU men’s soccer is playing some of its best soccer of late. The team has won five games in a row and has outscored their opponents 20-3 in that stretch. The Sea Lions have the three players tied for the lead in goals scored (11) in the entire PacWest Conference: fourth-year midfielder Cole Friesen, third-year forward Emmett Layman and third-year forward Elijah Langford. Friesen is also second in the PacWest in assists with eight. The Sea Lions finished the regular season 13-3-1 (9-1 in conference) and clinched the No. 1 seed for the PacWest Championships, which will be held at Westmont College from Nov. 13-15.
Women’s soccer
The women’s soccer team also clinched their spot in the PacWest Championships, finishing the regular season 8-3-5, but 5-1-4 in conference. Second-year forward Priya Torres has been a standout for the Sea Lions, as she’s tied with third-year Grace Nelson for the team lead in goals, and is one ahead of Nelson for the lead in assists. PLNU is the No. 3 seed headed into the PacWest Championships, which will be played at PLNU from Nov. 13-15.
Volleyball
The women’s volleyball team is having one of the best seasons in program history. They currently sit at 21-2 and are atop the PacWest Conference along with Fresno Pacific. Reigning PacWest Player of the Year and fifth-year outside hitter Abigail Nua is having yet another monster season. She’s leading the PacWest in kills per set at 4.94, more than a full kill ahead of the next closest at 3.87 kills per set. Nua also leads in points per set by more than a full point; Nua’s averaging 5.57 per set, next closest is at 4.36. Third-year setter Sophia Baugh is leading the PacWest in assists per set at 11.3, and fourth-year libero Macy Reynolds is leading the conference in digs with 412 and 5.02 per set. The Sea Lions have already punched their ticket to the PacWest Championships, but seeding has yet to be determined. Their next match is on Nov. 12 at PLNU against Vanguard.
As fall sports are coming to a close, basketball season draws nearer. The men’s basketball team has already played a scrimmage against Westcliff, which they won, and will play two games before their first home game, which is on Nov. 19 against Cal State San Marcos. The women’s team has won their first two exhibition games against La Sierra and Long Beach State. Their first home game is that same day, against Cal State Dominguez Hills. Women tip off at 5:30 p.m., and men at 7:30 p.m.
Zoey Peters