Box Score AZUSA, Calif. – Throughout the ups and downs this season, the Azusa Pacific women's volleyball team has always focused on finishing well. On Wednesday evening, they did just that.
In a nip-and-tuck contest that could have gone either way, the Cougars recorded a 3-0 (26-24, 25-23, 25-20) win over rival California Baptist.
The match featured 12 lead changes and 26 ties as the Cougars enacted a measure of revenge after dropping a three-set decision to the Lancers (15-12, 11-8 PacWest) earlier this season.
"We have been in the mix in a lot of matches this year and we have been doing a lot of good stuff and managing the match well. It's been great these last few matches to come out with wins and finish," said head coach Chris Keife. "We are playing for pride and for the Azusa Pacific right now and it has been fun to watch. It's always a fun match-up with California Baptist and it was great energy tonight."
Alicia Utke was nearly unstoppable as the senior recorded a career Azusa Pacific (14-14, 10-9) high 20 kills. She added 14 digs for her fourth double-double of the season.
"The last few matches Alicia has been fabulous offensively. She had a great match-up tonight and she did a nice job of finding the openings in the opponent's side of the court," Keife said.
"I've figured these are my last few matches here so I figure I'm going to go all out. Today was a good day," Utke said. "I feel like things are clicking really well right now. I wish it would have happened earlier this season but never now than never."
The energy in the Felix Event Center was great from the start. In the first set neither team held a lead larger than three points and it looked as if the visitors would claim the stanza. The Lancers held leads at 23-22 and 24-23 but the home crowd and a tough minded Azusa Pacific would not let that happen. The Cougars won the final three points of the set with the clinching point coming off an Ashley Midland kill.
The second stanza unfolded in a similar fashion. The teams went back-and-forth in a set that featured seven lead changes. Azusa Pacific eventually went ahead with a seemingly comfortable 22-18 lead. The Lancers cut that lead down to 23-21. The Cougars won the next point on a Joy Reinke kills but consecutive points by the visitors made these tighter than expected at 24-23. Azusa Pacific regrouped with a timeout and sealed the set on an Utke kill.
Azusa Pacific rode their wave of momentum to start the third set as they jumped out to an 11-4. California Baptist fought back and eventually tied the match at 17-17. However, the Cougar were not to be denied in the match. The completed the match on an 8-3 scoring spree finished off by consecutive kills from Hayley Beetstra and Utke.
In addition to Utke career evening, Mattie Shelford contributed a nine-kill match while Midland chipped in a seven-kill evening. Jaden Louie and Tristan Racich directed the "6-2" offense with 23 and 22 assists respectively.
The Lancers were led by Michelle Waber's 14-kill night. Lauren Hackett also had a double-figure kills effort with 12.
On Saturday the Cougars close out the season when they host Point Loma at 1 p.m. It is senior night for Beetstra, Cori Esparza, Racich and Utke.
