POMONA, Calif. – After a rough start to non-conference play, the Cougars are starting to find their winning formula.

For the second straight season Azusa Pacific tangled with Cal Poly Pomona for five sets, but this season the Cougars came out victories. They won for the fourth time in the last five matches by scores of 25-20, 23-25, 27-29, 25-21 and

Wednesday's match was just the seventh all-time meeting between the schools separated by just 11 miles. It was Cougars second win in the series that began in 1980 – the only other Azusa Pacific win against their non-conference foe.

A trio of Cougars posted a double-double in the match. Natalie Klapp recorded her fourth of the season with a 12-kill, 16-dig performance. Madison Ogas notched her third with 13 kills and digs while Danika Young also had her third on the young campaign (29 assists, 18 digs).

Certainly not to go unnoticed was Ally Gonzalez's team best 16 kills and Julianne Miller's 11 kills and .455 hitting percentage.  

An early scoring burst proved to be a big difference in the opening set win for Azusa Pacific. The Cougars raced out to leads of 7-1 and 16-8 respectively. Just past the midway point in the frame, Azusa Pacific was outhitting the home team .389. to -.091 in building their edge. Cal Poly Pomona pulled within three points (18-15) but never got closer.

Azusa Pacific started the second set in fine fashion as they hustled out to a 12-7 lead. However, the Broncos (4-5) quickly turned that around as they went in front 17-15. Despite tying the score at 20-20, the home team converted their second set point opportunity to tie the match at a set each.

In the critical third set each team had an opportunity to take the lead in the match. After overcoming a six-point deficit (15-9) the Broncos won the stanza on their third set point. Azusa Pacific (4-5) had an opportunity to win the set but couldn't convert the point at 24-23.

For the fourth straight set the Cougars took a lead of at least five points. Similar to their first set lead, they never let it go. Azusa Pacific took a 9-9 frame and made it 19-13 aided by three Ogas kills. Cal Poly Pomona pulled within 21-19 but that was the extent of their rally as the match headed to the decisive stanza.

During the final stanza, the Cougars took the lead at 4-2 and never gave it back. Cal Poly Pomona was able to draw within 13-12 but kills by Ally Gonzalez and Natalie Klapp sealed the victory.

Azusa Pacific begins PacWest play on Saturday when they travel to Point Loma.