RIVERSIDE, Calif. – After not looking good early, the Cougars nearly rallied in dramatic fashion late.
After losing the first two sets, Azusa Pacific posted consecutive set wins but fell 3-2 (10-25, 23-25, 25-14, 25-21, 13-15) to Cal State San Bernardino in the first round of the NCAA Division II West Regional Championships.
HOW IT HAPPENED: In the opening set the Coyotes scored the first five points were never threaten the rest of the frame. Cal State San Bernardino's offense hit .375 while taking advantage of the Cougars attack woes (-0.061) to jump out to the early lead.
Azusa Pacific responded well as the jumped out to a 10-7 lead in the second stanza; forcing the Coyotes into a timeout. The Cougars continued to hold the advantage and forced another Cal State San Bernardino timeout while holding a 16-11 lead. The Coyotes responded. The fourth-seed proceeded to scored 11 of the next 13 points. Azusa Pacific pulled within single digits twice (23-22, 24-23) but couldn't rally.
The Cougars used a .421 hitting mark early in the third set to race out to a 13-9 lead, causing the Coyotes to use one of their two timeouts. Azusa Pacific closed strong and won the final nine points of the stanza to force a fourth set.
Unfortunately the Cougars couldn't initally sustain the momentum as Cal State San Bernardino scored 10 of the fourth frame's 16 points. Azusa Pacific would not go quietly as they went on a 7-1 scoring spurt to take a 13-11 lead. The Cougars continued to press with success. Despite the Coyotes pulling with 17-16, Azusa Pacific didn't crack as they forced a deciding set.
In the last stanza, Cal State San Bernardino grabbed the first two-point edge (9-7) but the Cougars scored three unanswered points to take a 10-9 lead. The Coyotes put together the night's final rally as they did just enough down the stretch to eek out the victory.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Madison Ogas had team high 15 kills on a match high 60 swings
- Natalie Klapp (18 digs, 10 kills) and Kaylen Higa (26 assists, 11 digs) each had double-doubles
- Julianne Miller notched a 10-kill evening
- Azusa Pacific served up a season high eight service aces
QUOTEABLE: "The girls battled and did a nice job to come back and it showed a lot of our character," head coach Chris Keife said. "We started five freshmen last year and won nine of our last 10 matches. We're still a young team and we improved a lot since last season."
NCAA HISTORY: While this was the Cougars first postseason apperancse as NCAA Division II members, Cal State San Bernardino was making their 18th consecutive appearance. In those postseason appearances the Coyotes are 43-17.
SEASON FINALE: The loss ends the Cougars season with a 22-7 mark. It is the program's first 20-win season since 2013. With no seniors on the squad, the entire team is slated to return.
