Azusa, Calif.-- Current PacWest leader Azusa Pacific claimed its seventh straight PacWest victory on Thursday night after sweeping Hawai'i Hilo, 3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-22) at home in the Felix Event Center. 

After posting its twelfth PacWest sweep on the season, Azusa Pacific improves 23-4 overall and 17-2 in conference play. With its fourth conference loss on the season, Hawai'i Hilo drops 20-7 on the season and 15-4 in PacWest play. 

Several Cougars showed outstanding play against the Vulcans. Senior Aliyah Morrison led the Cougars offensively with a hitting percentage of .481 percent, collecting 14 kills and 5 blocks, while freshman Annaka Jorgenson recorded eight kills, thirteen digs, and two blocks for the Cougars. Senior Sara Wagenveld also showed strong play for Azusa Pacific, as she led the Cougars defensively with nine blocks and seven kills. Senior Bailey Henington collected 20 digs and three assists for the Cougars. 

How It Happened:
The Vulcans claimed the first two points of the first frame before the Cougars responded with four straight points to claim their first lead of the match. The two teams exchanged points early on and tied the score six different times before Azusa Pacific answered with a 6-0 run to extend its lead 21-15. The Vulcans rallied back to cut the lead 21-20, but it was no match for the Cougars, as a kill by Wagenveld sparked Azusa Pacific's offense to a 4-1 run, which eventually led to a first-set victory.

In the second set, an early 7-0 run helped the Cougars jump out to a 13-4 lead. Azusa Pacific continued to hold its lead midway through the frame with an eight point lead, 20-12, before the Vulcans rallied back and cut the lead by four, 23-19. A kill from sophomore Katarina Radisic advanced the Cougars to set point but Hawai'i Hilo responded with the next three points. Miller put the second set away with a kill, assisted by junior Mina Andjelkovic to secure a 25-11 victory. 

The Cougars finished off the sweep in the third set. Both Miller and Morrison collected three kills apiece to help secure an early 10-2 lead for the Cougars. The Cougars never trailed for the remainder of the match, and grew a 11-3 lead into a 19-11 advantage midway through the set. Hawai'i Hilo rallied back and narrowed down the Cougars eight-point lead with a 10-3 run to cut the score 22-21. Azusa Pacific responded with back-to-back kills from Morrison followed by Jorgenson to send the Cougars into match point. Hawai'i Hilo collected its last kill from Emily Wade, but Wagenveld closed out the match with her seventh kill to seal another PacWest conference victory for Azusa Pacific.     
 
What's Next:
Azusa Pacific will continue its string of PacWest Conference matches at home in the Felix Event Center on Saturday, November 16th against Hawai'i Pacific at 1:00 p.m.