AZUSA, Calif. – Azusa Pacific started their home portion of their schedule in fine fashion as the completed a three match stretch undefeated by topping Fresno Pacific 3-0 (25-22, 25-16, 25-16) on Saturday afternoon.
It was also the seven straight win for the squad. The last time the Cougars won seven straight was during the 2012 season when they reeled off eight consecutive victories. In addition to their match winning streak, the Cougars have dropped just three of 24 sets during their winning ways.
"The big difference between our first four matches and these last seven is we were exposed a bit early and we have been focusing on our weaknesses and improving on that. The team has bought into the mentality to clean-up our errors and focus on being a well-oiled group," said head coach Chris Keife. "We are playing well and we want to find ways to continually improve. We don't want to be complacent at being really good and that's where we are right now. We need to keep having the mindset of working on the areas of being better in the area we struggle to be consistent. If we do that we can get to another level."
In Saturday's win Ashley Midland led the way with an 11-kill effort with a .450 hitting percentage. The middle blocker also had four block assists. Mattie Shelford was just behind her with eight kills while Joy Reinke and Katy Crouse each chipped in seven kills.
The specialty players we just as big a contributors in the win as setters Alyssa Tavera and Jaden Louie had 21 and 17 assists respectively. The back row defense was led by Crouse's 17 digs while libero Ashley Swatek had 15.
"As a team we have a better chemistry than we did early in the season and we are learning to be confident in ourselves. When we have one good pass then one good set and hit then our confidence just keeps building," Louie said. "We are clicking really well right now and our passes have been pinpoint and that's gives the setters more options."
In the opening set, down 19-17, the Cougars began their comeback. They rallied by winning eight of the final 11 points in the set which culminated on an Ashley Midland kill. As a team the Cougars (7-4, 3-0 PacWest) hit a solid .317 as a team en route to the opening set victory.
Azusa Pacific carried that momentum from the opening set win into the early stage of the second frame. The Cougars raced out to a 9-2 lead to force the visitors into a timeout. Azusa Pacific continued to hold the lead and with a 15-7 edge and the Sunbirds were forced into their final timeout of the set to try and regroup. Fresno Pacific (1-7, 1-2) was able to get their deficit down to 19-14 but no closer as the Cougars went up 2-0 in the match.
Despite dropping the first three points of the third set, the Cougars quickly took the lead and found themselves in a nip-and-tuck frame. With the score tied at 13-13, Azusa Pacific nudged ahead 17-13 after a Reinke kill Fresno Pacific was forced to use a timeout. The Cougars continued to apply the pressure as they won three straight points to go up 20-13 and force another Fresno Pacific timeout. The Cougars cruised in the final points to claim the victory.
Azusa Pacific will next travel to Point Loma for a match-up against the Sea Lions on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
