Box Score HONOLULU, Hawaii – Despite winning the first two sets, the Cougars couldn't finish off Hawaii Pacific as the home battled back for a 3-2 win (20-25, 20-25, 25-19, 25-20, 15-5) on Friday. 

Azusa Pacific's offense was clicking en route to their 2-0 lead. In the opening set they had 15 kills with just two errors as well as a .406 hitting percentage which translated into a 25-20 opening set win. Though the Cougars were challenged in the second set they never trailed. The Sharks nearly fought off an 18-13 deficit but Azusa Pacific stepped up after the frame was tied at 20-20. Behind two kills by Alica Utke, two attack errors by the Sharks and a kill by Hayley Beestra, the Cougars were in front 2-0.

Hawaii Pacific raced out to leads of 9-1 and 15-3 in the second set. Azusa Pacific chipped away at their deficit and got as close as 23-18 but the home won two of the final three points in the stanza. 

The fourth set saw the Cougars slowly nudge in front and eventually took a seemingly comfortable 17-13 lead which forced the Sharks into a timeout. The rest of the set's momentum shifted after that stoppage of play. The home team won nine of the next 11 points which caused an Azusa Pacific timeout. Down 22-19 coming out of the timeout, the Cougars won the next point but couldn't draw any closer as the home team forced a fifth set. 

In the final set the Sharks put Azusa Pacific in a hole by winning the first five points. The Cougars looked to have some life after winning two straight points after that but Hawaii Pacific wasn't to be denied as the pulled away for the win.

Alicia Utke put together her first double-double of the season with 11-kill, 17-dig evening. Ashley Midland and Mattie Shelford rounded out the double figure kill producers for the Cougars with 10 each.

Hawaii Pacific's Elizabeth Culpepper had a team high 16 kills. 

Azusa Pacific concludes their three-match, three-day swing through the Islands with a Saturday match against Hawaii Hilo.