In the final day of the D2 West Region Showcase, Azusa Pacific once again split a pair of matches for the day, its fourth time splitting a pair of matches in the same day this season. The Cougars opened Saturday's action with a three-set sweep over Northwest Nazarene but struggled in their second matchup of the day in a three-set defeat to No. 9-ranked Cal State San Bernardino.
 
Azusa Pacific 3, Northwest Nazarene 0 (25-23, 25-10, 25-22)
 
In the first set, the Cougars needed a late surge to pick up the early lead in the match. Northwest Nazarene led 22-20 when senior Aliyah Morrison put down a kill (assisted by Kaylen Higa), followed by two consecutive kills and an ace by Julianne Miller, giving the Cougars a 24-22 advantage. Morrison then finished off the set with another kill, securing the match lead.
 
Azusa Pacific came out strong in the second set, jumping out to an early 10-4 lead. The Cougars maintained the fast start, controlling the entire second set with a lopsided 25-10 margin. Azusa Pacific posted a hitting percentage of .500 in the set, led by four kills from senior Natalie Klapp, and three kills each from Morrison and freshman Katarina Radisic.
 
Azusa Pacific finished off the match with a 25-22 victory in the third set. Despite a two-set deficit, Northwest Nazarene kept things close with the Cougars, tying the set at 15-15. The Cougars were able to create separation by taking a 20-16 lead. Klapp once again led Azusa Pacific in kills in the set, posting four in the final set of the match.
 
On the match, senior Kaylen Higa led the Cougars 17 assists, while freshman Chase Davis contributed 15 assists to the winning effort. Radisic led Azusa Pacific with 11 kills, while Klapp finished with 10 kills and Morrison had 9 kills. Sophomore Sophia Newhouse finished with 16 digs, and Radisic gathered 13 kills.
 
#9 Cal State San Bernardino 3, Azusa Pacific 0 (25-17, 25-22, 25-11)
 
In the second match of the day, Azusa Pacific fell to a nationally-ranked top-10 team in Cal State San Bernardino, and from the outset, the Coyotes came out strong to control the match. The second set was closer for the Cougars, who tied the set at 19-19 before CSUSB closed out the set with a 25-22 win.
 
Radisic once again led Azusa Pacific in kills, as she tallied nine in the match. Along with Radisic, a trio of Cougars had six kills each (Wagenveld, Miller, and Klapp). Higa finished with 17 assists on the match.
 
What's Next
 
After a pair of four-match tournaments, Azusa Pacific is now 4-4 on the season. Up next for the Cougars is the 2018 PacWest opener, as the Cougars host Concordia in the Felix Event Center, on Wednesday, September 5, at 5:00 p.m.