Crusaders Clinch GSAC Volleyball Title

Point Loma Nazarene clinched its first Golden State Athletic Conference women’s volleyball championship Friday by defeating Westmont in a thrilling five-game match in Santa Barbara.

The Crusaders (20-6, 10-0) won, 8-15, 16-14, 15-7, 8-15, 17-15, to clinch the title with two conference matches remaining.

Sisters Roberta and Debbie Simpson led PLNC with 21 and 15 kills respectively. Leanne Lopez, a transfer setter from UC Santa Barbara, had 69 assists, and Tracy Daniels had three aces. Westmont fell to 18-9, 5-4.

UC San Diego won two pool play matches at the Washington University National Invitational, defeating Wheaton College, 15-6, 15-9, 15-13, and Nebraska Wesleyan, 15-3, 15-6, 15-7. UCSD (26-6, 12-0 against Division III teams) was led by Elizabeth Tan, who had eight kills in the first match, and Vikki Van Duyne, who had 10 in the second.

USD lost to Loyola Marymount, 15-9, 15-9, 15-7, in a West Coast Conference game in Los Angeles. Angie Rais had 12 kills and Torril Purvis had nine for USD (10-11, 2-3). Loyola Marymount, led by Deanna Doolittle with 13 kills, improved to 12-11, 5-1.

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo defeated U.S. International, 15-2, 15-7, 15-8, behind 12 kills from Jill Myers. Stephanie Milbradt also had 12 kills for USIU (7-18). Cal Poly San Luis Obispo improved to 11-15.

MEN’S SOCCER

Tom Crane scored two goals and one assist in the University of San Diego’s 5-0 nonconference victory over host U.S. International. USD’s Andrew Kummer had two assists. No. 17 USD, which led 4-0 at halftime, improved to 12-1-4 with its sixth victory in a row. USIU fell to 3-10-1.

Cal Baptist defeated host Christian Heritage, 3-0, in a nonconference NAIA match. Goalie John Garrettson recorded eight saves for Christian Heritage.