AZUSA, Calif. -- Azusa Pacific picked up its fifth straight sweep to open Pacific West Conference play and became the PacWest's only remaining undefeated team in conference play Monday night after recording a 25-23, 27-25, 25-12 victory over Hawai'i Hilo.
The Cougars used a balanced effort to hand Hawai'i Hilo its first PacWest defeat, as Natalie Klapp, Katarina Radisic, and Aliyah Morrison each collected a match-high 10 kills to lead the offense, and four players reached double figures in digs with Radisic leading the way with 13.
Azusa Pacific remained perfect with the sweep, winning all 15 sets in PacWest play so far, although the first two sets put that streak in jeopardy. The opening set featured seven ties and a pair of lead changes, and the Cougars fought off two set points in the second set before scoring five of the final six points.
MATCH SUMMARY
Radisic broke a 21-21 tie in the opening set with consecutive kills followed by a Kaylen Higa service ace to take a 24-21 edge. After Hawai'i Hilo produced two kills to fight off a pair of set points, the Vulcans served into the net to give Azusa Pacific a 25-23 win in the opening set.
Azusa Pacific picked up an even more improbable victory in the second set after Hawai'i Hilo jumped out to a 15-9 lead. The Cougars answered by scoring four straight points, starting with one of Morrison's five kills in the set, but the Vulcans built the spread back out to five points at 22-17. Radisic got another four-point run started with a kill to help the Cougars pull within a point, and Morrison answered the call when the Cougars faced set point with a 24-22 deficit later in the set. Kaylen Higa surprised the Vulcans with a set over the net that resulted in a kill to tie things up at 24-24, and Morrison and Klapp closed out the set with back-to-back kills to break a 25-25 tie.
Azusa Pacific answered an early 3-1 deficit in the third set with a devastating 20-6 run, and Klapp finished off the Vulcans with her 10th kill of the evening in a 25-12 runaway victory in the third set.
STAT LEADERS
In addition to the trio of 10-kill performers, the Cougars also got five kills apiece from Sara Wagenveld and Amy Hinnant. Wagenveld had a hand in five of Azusa Pacific's seven blocks, while Hinnant registered her five kills without an error in 13 attempts while also notching a block. Radisic's 13 digs were a team-high, while Klapp, Higa, and Sophia Newhouse recorded 10 digs each. Higa and Chase Davis shared setting duties, with Higa recording 19 assists while Davis added 16 assists.
WHAT IT MEANS
Azusa Pacific is now the only team in the PacWest standings without a conference loss. Hawai'i Hilo and Chaminade both entered the week unblemished in PacWest play, but both were swept Monday night in Los Angeles County as Biola swept Chaminade in La Mirada.
UP NEXT
The Cougars wrap up a seven-match PacWest homestand with two more home matches this week, taking on Hawai'i Pacific on Wednesday evening at 5 p.m. before wrapping up the week at home against Chaminade on Thursday, Sept. 20, at 6 p.m.
