Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The Cougars posted a historic win in their second match against #13 Central Washington at the GNAC-PacWest challenge after falling earlier in the day to Alaska Anchorage.

Match 2 - Azusa Pacific 3, #13 Central Washington 0

In only their sixth match as an NCAA Division II program, Azusa Pacific has their first win over a nationally ranked foe. 

The Cougars three-set win over 13th ranked Central Washington was closer than the 3-0 (25-15, 26-24, 28-26) may suggest. 

"I thought we served well and took them out of system which allowed us to block well. Our team had good energy out there and they were engaged in the match. I was proud of the way we fought through some tough spots," said head coach Chris Keife.  "Both of our middles did a great job of sealing off their blocks and Mattie did a fantastic job putting the ball when she was given the opportunity."

Crystal Dedes provided a huge lift to the Cougars blocking efforts. The sophomore had a team high seven block assists as Azusa Pacific posted 12 total team blocks. Hayley Beetstra and Ashley Midland contributed five block assists each. 

Alicia Utke and Mattie Shelford each took match high honors for kills with 11. 

Azusa Pacific jumped out to an eight-point lead at 14-6 to start the match. The Wildcats couldn't pull any closer than five points the rest of the opening frame as the Cougars took the critically important opening set. 

While the second set started in similar fashion for Azusa Pacific, the Wildcats provided significant push back. The Cougars held a seemingly comfortable 19-11 lead but a 6-0 scoring spurt put Central Washington back into the stanza. With the score 22-22 the Cougars got a kill from Jaden Louie and a ball handling error by Julie Hulbert which gave Azusa Pacific two set points. However, back-to-back points by the Wildcats put the pressure back on the Cougars. A hard fighting Cougars squad responded by getting consecutive kills from Shelford to give them a 2-0 lead in the contest.

A tension filled third set saw the lead change hands on seven occasions in addition to it being tied 10 times. Trailing 22-21, Azusa Pacific put themselves in a great spot by claiming three straight points. With two opportunities to win the match, the Cougars couldn't convert and the Wildcats gave themselves a chance to force a fourth set as they went in front 25-24. A Shelford kill halted the brief Central Washington scoring drive and tied the set at 25-25. After the Wildcats stopped another Azusa Pacific match point at 26-25, the Cougars sealed the straight sets win with a block by Dedes and Beetstra at 27-26. 

Azusa Pacific is back to the court on Friday morning when they play #9 Western Washington at 11:15 a.m. 

Match 1 - Alaska Anchorage 3, Azusa Pacific 0

In the first ever meeting between the two schools, the Seawolves front line defense played a major role in the victory as they posted 17 total team blocks. Kayla McGlathery led the way with one block solo and six block assists. Caitlin McInerney added a block solo and five block assists. 

Azusa Pacific started well and was just a few points from an opening set victory. After an Alaska-Anchorage attack error the Cougars held a 22-19 lead. However the Seawolves regrouped and won five straight points to take a 24-22 edge. Azusa Pacific held off one set point with a Joey Reinke kill but the Seawolves clinched the opening stanza on the next point.

The second set saw the Alaska Anchorage offense post a .308 hitting percentage while limiting the Cougars to a .031 hitting mark as the visitors from the Land of the Midnight Sun took a 2-0 lead in the contest. The Seawolves, an NCAA Division II Championship participant in 2013, roared out to a 10-3 lead to start the third set and never looked back as they swept the contest.

Alicia Utke led the way for the Azusa Pacific offense by posting a match high 10 kills. Matti Shelford added a six-kill morning. 

Along the back line Kristina Kam posted her fifth straight match with double figure digs as the transfer from Hawaii dug up 16 balls.

Brooke Pottle and Katelynn Zanders each had a team high eight kills for the Seawolves.