PLNU setter Kylie Morel receives her NAIA All-Tournament plaque

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Sioux City, Iowa (12/5) - Point Loma Nazarene's exciting run in the NAIA National Tournament came to an end Friday evening with a 3-0 quarterfinal loss to Golden State Athletic Conference foes, Concordia (CA) (25-16, 25-23, 25-21). The NAIA No. 13-ranked Sea Lions went 4-2 against the nation's best and advanced to the tournament quarterfinals for the first time since the 2002 season. PLNU ends the year with a 22-11 overall record.

The No. 3-rated Eagles improved to 30-5. They advance to the Saturday's semifinal round where they will face Biola, another conference squad. In fact, for the second consecutive season, all four semifinal teams hail from the GSAC and of the 12 teams that made it out of pool play, seven were from the powerhouse conference.

To have a chance against a team like Concordia, the Sea Lions would have to be hitting on all cylinders. A few of Point Loma's players were slowed by a flu bug, however. In addition, the Eagles were disrupting the Sea Lions with effective serving as well as playing quicker and stronger.

The Sea Lions has a total 34 kills in the match and hit .150.  Tabitha Henken led the team with 12 kills and was followed by senior Melissa Boer who had seven kills of her own as well as 15 digs.  Boer was joined in double figures for digs by Sheriess Peters and defensive specialist, Jillian Doornbos, who combined for 21. 

At the net, PLNU out blocked CU 14-12.  Christy Dueck put up six assisted blocks and Peters helped on five while also contributing the only solo block for the Sea Lions. 

Sea Lion setter Kylie Morel dished out 24 assists to go with 11 digs and five kills. Morel was selected to the NAIA all-tournament team.

Concordia's top hitter was Traci Weamer with 14 kills.  The Eagles hit .306 collectively and had three players in double digits on digs, including the match leader, Chelsea Scott who had 19.

Friday's match was the third time that PLNU and Concordia met on the court. All three meetings went to Eagles. CIU topped Point Loma 3-2 in San Diego during conference action and then swept the Sea Lions in Irvine.

The Sea Lions still lead the Eagles 29-19 all-time.