AZUSA, Calif. – With a great deal of proficiency the Azusa Pacific women's volleyball dispatched of Academy of Art 3-0 (25-14, 24-13, 25-18) on Thursday evening.

With the win the Cougars up their winning streak to nine while improving their overall record to 14-1 and 7-0 in PacWest matches.

HOW IT HAPPENED: Azusa Pacific continued to show a strong offensive prowess. As a squad they hit .341 and, at times, flirted with a hitting mark above .400 midway through the final set. It is the fifth time in the last seven matches the Cougars have posted a hitting mark of at least .300.

Aside for two early deficits in the second and third sets, the Cougars did not trail in the match.

EFFICIENT COUGARS: Julianne Miller posted a team best 11 kills and a .846 hitting percentage. On all but two of her 13 attack attempts she recorded a kill. Sara Wagenveld had eight kills on her 14 swings (.571) to aid in the win. From her outside hitting spot, Natalie Klapp had seven kills and seven digs.

NATIONALLY RANKED: Thursday's win was the first match since the Cougars earned a national ranking of 24 by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. It is the first time in the NCAA era the program earned a national ranking.

PACWEST UPDATE: The victory keeps Azusa Pacific in a virtual deadlock with California Baptist atop the league standings. The two squads have their first of two meetings next Saturday in Riverside.

UP NEXT: The Cougars travel to rival Biola on Saturday for a 7 p.m. contest in the next installment of the Cornerstone Cup presented by West Coast Sand and Gravel.