SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Golden Eagles battled through four competitive sets against PacWest rival Point Loma on Saturday afternoon, showcasing strong individual performances and a dominant third-set response. Despite a 3-1 setback (17-25, 20-25, 25-16, 22-25), CUI continued to demonstrate its offensive depth and defensive resilience against one of the conference's top teams.
After dropping the opening two sets, the Green and Gold came out with renewed energy in the third frame, taking control with a 25-16 victory. CUI held the Sea Lions to a .023 hitting percentage while recording 11 kills and hitting .273 as a team. The Golden Eagles carried that momentum into the fourth set, improving their offensive efficiency to .286 and battling Point Loma before narrowly falling 25-22.
Kayden Croy led the Golden Eagles offensively with a team-high 11 kills while hitting .300. Croy also made her presence known at the net with five block assists and added three service aces, finishing with a team-high 16.5 points.
Emma Wegleitner continued to deliver on both sides of the ball, recording another double-double with 10 kills and a match-high 19 digs for the Green and Gold. The outside hitter also contributed two service aces while hitting .276.
Sarah Guglielmana provided an efficient offensive performance, collecting 10 kills on 19 attempts for a .368 hitting percentage. Guglielmana also contributed four block assists, helping CUI remain competitive at the net. Freshman Livia Eyre made an immediate impact in her two sets of action, registering nine kills on 20 swings while hitting an impressive .400.
Nevada Knowles continued to direct the Golden Eagles' offense, dishing out 42 assists while adding 10 digs for a double-double of her own. Knowles helped CUI finish with 49 kills and a .237 hitting percentage, matching Point Loma's offensive efficiency.
Defensively, the Green and Gold totaled 70 digs, edging the Sea Lions' 67. Halen Kiefer, Avery Banaag, and Kendyll Winn each contributed eight digs, while Delaney Gregg added three block assists to support CUI's efforts at the net.
The Golden Eagles move to 18-5 overall and 11-3 in PacWest play as they continue their push through the conference schedule.
