AZUSA, Calif. –- When coaches talk about getting off to a good start each match, this could be what they talk about.
Azusa Pacific came out firing and aside from a brief hiccup in the second game cruised to a 3-1 (30-10, 28-30, 30-19, 30-22) GSAC victory over visiting Christian Heritage Tuesday night in Azusa.
With the win, the Cougars improve 9-5 on the season, 3-2 in the GSAC. The Hawks fall to 1-9, 0-5.
Azusa Pacific roared from the opening serve, and before the Hawks realized what hit them, the Cougars had a 14-1 lead. They hit a dazzling .500, commited just 1 attack error in 30 attempts while pounding 16 kills in the opener.
Katrina Anker had a match-high 19 kills, 5 of them coming in the first game. The Cougars also benefited from the Hawks' inefficiency as they hit -.167 (4-10-36).
Neither team held more than a 3-point lead in the second game until the Cougars opened a 13-10 advantage on a Jenny Brickner ace.
As a team, the Cougars finished the match with 12 aces.
After Brickner's ace, the Hawks called a timeout and proceeded to reel off 4 straight points to take a 14-3 lead. Eight ties and 8 lead changes later and with the match tied at 28-28, the Hawks took advantage of back-to-back Cougar hitting errors to even the match at 1-1. The Cougars finished the second game hitting just .104.
After that, however, the Cougars regained control of the match, rediscovered their hitting touch and cruised in for the win. Jenny Brickner added 14 kills, a team-high 8 blocks and a pair of aces. Chelsea Morgan finished with 11 kills and 6 blocks. Anker led all players with 21 digs, and Courtney Fox finished with 59 assists and 6 digs.
As a team, the Cougars finished the match hitting .270. They also recorded 14 team blocks and had a season-high 77 digs.
"Tonight, we came out strong, but then were flat in the second game," said Azusa Pacific head coach Chris Keife. "We're looking for consistency in our passing game, especially with the tough stretch ahead of us."
Over the next 2 weeks, the Cougars battle nationally-ranked Biola and defending NAIA champion Fresno Pacific. Up next, however, the Cougars host NAIA-member Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) Friday at 7 p.m. in the Felix Event Center.
