EL CAJON, CALIF. – A healthy set of Cougars looked every bit
physically better with a much-needed 4-game GSAC victory at
Christian Heritage.
 
The Cougars, who went up in a cloud of smoke at Westmont on
Tuesday, thanks in part to nagging injuries and a flu working its
way through team members, bounced back 48 hours later with a
15-5, 7-15, 15-13, 15-6 victory over the Hawks for their third
GSAC road victory this season.
 
Freshman Jenna Sagehorn, who was one of the flu-wilted
Cougars in Santa Barbara, was feeling much better in El Cajon
and it showed with her match-high 15 kills in 33 attempts without
an error.  She also collected 6 blocks and 9 digs.  Meanwhile
fellow freshman Christy Kimmel, who leads the GSAC in hitting
percentage, had 10 kills in just 18 attempts and tagged on
match-highs of 14 digs and 7 blocks.  As a team, the Cougars had
16 blocks for the match.
 
The match swung on the third game when the Cougars held on for
a narrow 15-13 win.  A deflated set of Hawks then saw Azusa
Pacific run away with game 4 and the match.
 
With the win, which is Azusa Pacific's second straight at Christian
Heritage, the Cougars improve to 17-5 overall, and 7-4 in the
GSAC, momentarily putting Azusa Pacific all by itself in third place
behind Point Loma Nazarene and Fresno Pacific.  Christian
Heritage falls to 7-11 overall, 3-7 in the GSAC.
 

MATCH STATS

Azusa Pacific           15    7    15    15
Christian Heritage       5   15    13     6
 
Kills:  Sagehorn (APU) 15, Davis (CHC) 13,
        Kimmel (APU) & Goodyear (CHC) 10
Digs:   Kimmel (APU) & Dekiewiet (CHC) 14
Blocks: Kimmel (APU) 7, Sagehorn (APU) 6
Aces:   Mercer (APU) 4, Sagehorn (APU) 3