AZUSA, Calif. -- Azusa Pacific secured at least a share of the Pacific West Conference championship with a three-set sweep over Dominican Friday night, 25-23, 25-10, 25-16, and the Cougars can clinch the first-ever volleyball conference title in program history outright with a victory in Saturday's season finale.
Sophomore opposite Amy Hinnant led an efficient Azusa Pacific offense with 11 kills in 22 errorless attempts, while four others notched at least eight kills. The Cougars produced a .327 team attack percentage, including 16 kills with just one error (.441 attack percentage) in a 25-10 second set win.
With its seventh consecutive win, Azusa Pacific is now 23-6 overall and 19-2 in PacWest play, leading second-place Biola by a game in the conference standings heading into a Saturday matchup against Notre Dame de Namur. The Cougars have also clinched the PacWest's automatic NCAA Tournament berth and will represent the conference as part of the eight-team West Regional next week at a site to be announced Sunday night.
MATCH SUMMARY
Neither team led by more than two points in the opening set until Azusa Pacific turned around a 14-12 deficit with five straight points midway through the set. The Cougars made it a 9-2 run and led 21-16. Dominican rallied with a 7-2 run to tie up the set, 23-23, but a service error was followed by a Katarina Radisic kill to clinch the first-set win.
In the second set, Dominican only held the lead after scoring the opening point, but the Cougars quickly controlled the set by answering with five points in a row. Azusa Pacific then blew the set wide open, scoring 12 straight to take a 20-6 lead on an Emma Svagdis kill before cruising to the 25-10 win. The Cougars scored four of the first five points and never trailed in set three, clinching the match going away by outscoring the Penguins 13-6 to pull away late.
STAT LEADERS
Hinnant was Azusa Pacific's kills leader for the second time this season, and junior middle blocker Julianne Miller registered 10 kills with two blocks. Senior outside hitter Natalie Klapp tallied eight kills and 14 digs, while freshman setter Chase Davis had a season-high 16 digs along with 19 assists. Freshman outside hitter Katarina Radisic finished with nine kills and nine digs.
Dominican's offensive leader was Cat Thomason with eight kills on 24 attempts. Hana Wyles and Samantha Brown registered 10 digs each, while Kate Even recorded a match-high five blocks.
WHAT IT MEANS
Azusa Pacific can clinch the outright PacWest title, its first conference volleyball title in program history, with a win over Notre Dame de Namur on Saturday, Nov. 10.
UP NEXT
Azusa Pacific concludes the regular season at home against Notre Dame de Namur with a 3 p.m. matchup at the Felix Event Center on Saturday, Nov. 10. The Cougars await the playoff selection announcement for the West Regional tournament location and seeding, which will be announced by the NCAA on Sunday, Nov. 11 at 7:00 p.m. (Pacific). The 8-team regional is a three-day tournament (Nov. 15-17) which will be hosted by the highest seed.
