Box Score RIVERSIDE, Calif. – In their first of two matches with their Southern California rival, the Cougars came out on the short end of the scoreboard.
California Baptist tallied 43 kills and hit. 291 in the match en route to a 3-0 (26-24, 25-21, 25-20) win on Wednesday evening.
In the opening frame both teams battled back-and-forth as neither team held a lead larger than four points. Azusa Pacific used a run that started at the set's midway point to grab momentum. With the score 13-13, the Cougars put together an 8-4 scoring spurt to grab a 21-17 lead and force the Lancers into a timeout. After the stoppage, the set took a turn in California Baptist's favor. The home scored six straight to take a 23-21 edge. Azusa Pacific (11-10, 7-5 PacWest) couldn't get the lead back. The Cougars fought off the first set points but the home team converted on their next opportunity as they took a 1-0 lead in the contest.
At the start of the second set the team's traded the opening points. Azusa Pacific took an early 7-6 lead but the home team slowly pulled away and never let their guests retake the scoring edge. The Lancers held a 15-14 lead and proceeded to put a larger margin to their lead. California Baptist (13-7, 9-3) scored four straight to take control. The Cougars got that four-point deficit down to two-points at 22-20 but couldn't pull any closer.
Things didn't start well for the Cougars in the third set as they lost the first four points and called a timeout. The home team eventually grew that lead to as large as seven points at 16-9 before Azusa Pacific made a run of their own. They dwindled that deficit down to 17-15 but they couldn't pull any closer as the Lancers closed the match in three set.
For the ninth time in 2014 Mattie Shelford registered a team best in kills. The junior pounded out 11 kills to take team high honors. Kristina Kam manned the back row to the tune of a team high 20 digs. It was the 17th time the junior has done so this season. Tristian Tacich and Jaden Louie dished out 19 and 18 assists respectively.
Michelle Waber had a match high 12 kills and hit .310 to aid in the Lancer victory.
Azusa Pacific continues their six-match road swing with a Saturday match at 5:30 p.m. against Point Loma.
