IRVINE, Calif. – Concordia rallied a handful of times to post a 3-2 (25-22, 19-25, 18-25, 25-19, 15-12) PacWest win against No. 23 Azusa Pacific on Saturday evening.
The loss drops the Cougars record to 15-4 overall and 8-3 in league games while Concordia, winners of seven straight, moves to 11-8 and 7-5 respectively.
HOW IT HAPPENED: Rally seemed to be the appropriate term for the Eagles. Down in the match after three frame and despite trailing late in the fourth and fifth set, they still pulled out the victory.
In the fourth set the Cougars look to be in strong position to sweep the season series. Up 16-12, Azusa Pacific was just nine points from the win. The home team called a timeout and proceeded to score seven of the next eight points to grab control of the fourth stanza. The Cougars could never responded as Concordia wounded up winning 13 of the set's last 16 points to force a fifth set.
During the decisive fifth frame, the Cougars were in strong position with leads of 9-6 and 10-7. Yet the home team had one more rally in them as they won six straight points to take a 13-10 lead. Concordia secured the win on their second match point on a Cindy Tran kill
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Concordia overcame a 12 service error evening to get the win
- Aliyah Morrison had a personal season high 15 kills
- Rachel Flynn had a match high 23 kills to pace the Eagles
- Shaylah Kagehiro posted a double-double with 19 assists and 11 digs
PACWEST IMPLICATIONS: With the loss the Cougars move into a second-place tie with Biola. California Baptists is undefeated after 11 matches.
UP NEXT: Azusa Pacific travels to Point Loma on Thursday for a 7 p.m. match.
