CARSON, Calif – The Cougars closed out the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase with a tough defeat but followed that with a solid victory to close out the event.
Azusa Pacific took three of their four matches during the three days as they upped their overall record to 3-5.
Seattle Pacific 3, Azusa Pacific 2
Looking to enact a measure of revenge after a three set loss last weekend, the Cougars came up just short.
For the second straight match a host of Cougars produced double-doubles. Natalie Klapp had 15 kills and 13 digs while Danika Young went for a career high 36 assists with 12 digs.
Ally Gonzalez had a team best and career high 18 kills while Baily Henington set a career best with 36 digs.
A back-and-forth match throughout the Falcons barely enough to grab the match win. Azusa Pacific scored more points (86-65), had an edge in kills (74-47) as well as digs (116-91) but couldn't pull out the critical point down the stretch.
Azusa Pacific fought off a set point as they won the final three points to secure a 1-0 lead in the match. During the second stanza Seattle Pacific flipped a 16-15 Cougar lead into a 21-17 lead en route to splitting the match at a set each.
As the third frame unfolded the Falcons won crucial points late. With the scoreboard reading 21-21, Seattle Pacific scored three straight before winning the frame on their third set point. Azusa Pacific played with authority in the fourth frame. The Cougars had 18 kills and hit .295 as team while limiting the opposition to just four kills and zero hitting mark.
A heartbreaking final frame ensued for the Cougars as they held leads of 9-3 and 14-11 but couldn't close out a pesky Falcons squad. Seattle won six of the final seven points en route to halting three Cougar match points to seal the win.
Azusa Pacific 3, Cal State Dominguez Hills 1
Natalie Klapp closed the weekend with her third straight double-double to aid in the victory. The sophomore recorded 10 kills and 14 digs during the four-set win. Ally Gonzalez had a match best 11 kills.
As the primary setter for the first time this season, Danika Young handed out 26 assists. Along the backline Bailey Henington had 19 of the squad's 65 digs.
After pulling out a close set one victory, the Cougars cruised to a second frame win as they posted a .316 team hitting mark to grab a 2-0 lead in the match.
Cal State Dominguez Hills turned the tide for one set as they posted a convincing win in the third set. The home teams bid for a comeback was thwarted in a big way during the Cougars fourth set triumph. Azusa Pacific's offense was efficient enough to the tune of a .250 hitting percentage while the Toro hit in the negative (-.034).
