AZUSA, Calif. – Azusa Pacific swept Holy Name 3-0 on Friday night, as the Cougars improved to 14-3 overall and 8-1 in PacWest play.
 
In the first set, the two teams traded the momentum of the opening frame, as there were six instances of either team scoring three or more consecutive points. To open the set, the Cougars took the first three points to grab an early lead. Azusa Pacific extended the lead to 8-2, before Holy Names claimed four straight points to pull within 8-6. The Cougars began to take control of the first set as they outscored Holy Names 11-6 over the next 17 points and took a 19-12 lead. However, the Hawks battled back, as they scored six out of the next seven points to pull within two points at 20-18. The Cougars put the first set away when Aliyah Morrison notched her third kill in the first frame, giving the Cougars a 25-21 victory and a 1-0 match lead.
 
The Cougars opened up the second set by taking an 11-5 lead. Following three errors by Azusa Pacific, the Hawks had some hope at 11-8, but Azusa Pacific would push its lead up to 17-10 and take the momentum back. The Cougars kept the Hawks at bay for the rest of the set, as Holy Names was unable to get closer than six points. Julianne Miller finished off the second set with a kill, which was her third of the set and fourth of the match.
 
Azusa Pacific finished off the sweep in the third set, but it was not an easy task. Holy Names jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead before the Cougars took six of the next seven points and a 6-5 lead. Holy Names grabbed the lead right back with three straight points at 8-6, but two Hawk attack errors tied the game up at 8-8. The two teams would continue to battle, eventually locked in a 17-17 game. Holy Names would go up 19-17, but Azusa Pacific closed out the set and match with a 8-2 run, capped off by two consecutive kills from Miller and an attack error by Holy Names.
 
"We started slow, but I felt we kept getting better as the game went on," said head coach Chris Keife, "I was glad we came out and responded after a tough match Friday."
 
Miller had a team-high nine kills, as she posted a .692 hitting percentage on the night. Mina Andjelkovic helped set-up the Cougar offensive attack all match, as she assisted on 27 of the Cougars' 38 kills. Defensively, Sara Wagenveld had a game-high four blocks, and Bailey Henington tallied 13 digs.
 
The Cougars will now head to Hawai'i for three games in four days on the islands, beginning with a match on Friday, Oct. 25 at Chaminade. The Silverswords currently sit atop the PacWest standings at 12-0 in conference play, and 18-2 overall.
 
"This is a pivotal point for us," said coach Keife, "this trip is a challenge, as all three teams out in Hawai'i are at the top of the conference and our tough opponents to play."
 
Following the meeting with Chaminade, the Cougars will play Hawai'i Pacific on Saturday (Oct. 26) and Hawai'i Hilo on Monday (Oct. 28).