FRESNO, Calif. -- On an Azusa Pacific squad stocked with 8 underclassmen, a pair of collegiate veterans stepped forward to guide the NAIA's No. 14-ranked Cougars to an impressive season-opening 30-27, 30-19, 30-20 sweep over Southern Oregon at the 23rd annual Fresno Pacific Invitational Friday afternoon.
Senior Chelsea Morgan and junior Brianne Huff each tallied a match-high 16 kills, but Morgan's five kills without an error helped the Cougars escape with a 30-27 win in an error-filled first game. Huff committed five attack errors in Game 1, the last of which gave Southern Oregon a short-lived 19-18 advantage, but she recovered in time to register two key kills to end the Red Raiders threat. She went on to display deadly accuracy, finishing the match with 15 straight kills without an error, and the 16 kills in the match bested Huff's previous career high of 13.
"The errors definitely kept it close during that first game," said Cougar head coach Chris Keife, "which was probably a combination of nerves and getting the girls acclimated to the setting and the game. Once we got settled in, we were able to reduce our hitting errors and serve much better and much tougher."
Morgan, a 2005 NAIA All-American Second Team selection, registered 12 straight kills without an error to start the match, finishing with a sparkling .625 hitting percentage to go with a pair of blocks.
"Chelsea is a great athlete, and we will expect that type of leadership from her," said Keife. "Her role is to put the ball away and get a kill for us when we need it."
Freshman Jill Baker, the 2005 National Christian Schools Athletic Association's National Volleyball Player of the Year, posted 13 kills and 18 digs in an impressive collegiate debut. Sophomore right side hitter Megan Burch added 10 kills without an error, and sophomore libero Brittany Brown finished with a match-high 20 digs.
"Jill did a very nice job for us today," said Keife. "She played a very solid all-around game and held her composure very well for a freshman."
Sophomore setter Allison Kincheloe, who shattered the Azusa Pacific record for assists in a season as a 2005 freshman, recorded 49 assists and added 13 digs. Sophomore Kelsey Knudsen registered 4 of her career-high 5 kills in the opening game, while sophomore Laura Stiles established a new career mark with 12 digs.
"Overall, I was happy to start the season with a victory, and I thought we did some things very well once we got going," said Keife. "We still need to serve tougher, put the ball away and be more disciplined in our blocking."
Azusa Pacific, now victorious in 8 of its past 9 lid-lifters, improves to 1-0 and continues play in the Fresno Pacific Invitational this weekend, taking on Holy Names Friday evening before meeting Notre Dame de Namur and Lubbock Christian in Saturday morning action.
