SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – Azusa Pacific entered the West Region Championship on Saturday night against #1 Cal State San Bernardino, a team who held a 29-0 record. While the Cougars fell in five sets to CS San Bernardino, the Coyotes had to hold off a resilient Azusa Pacific team who found a way to battle back into the match following an early 0-2 deficit. With the loss, Azusa Pacific's season comes to an end, as the Cougars finished second in the West Region.

Four Cougars had double-digit kills in the match, as Julianne Miller led the way with 17 kills, followed by Katarina Radisic (15), Sara Wagenveld (14) and Annaka Jorgenson (13). In addition to leading Azusa Pacific in kills, Miller also had seven total blocks, and Wagenveld added five blocks. Bailey Henington tallied 23 digs in the match, as well as four assists. Mina Andjelkovic was a key contributor both offensively and defensively, as she had 47 assists and 16 digs. Miller, Radisic, Wagenveld and Henington were named to the West Regional All-Tournament Team.

While Azusa Pacific fell behind early in the match by losing the first two sets, the end of the second set proved to be a momentum changing sequence for the Cougars. Azusa Pacific faced set point as CS San Bernardino held a 24-13 lead. The Cougars would rattle of nine consecutive points to cut the deficit down to just 24-22. Though the Coyotes would end the set on the next point, the 9-0 run reenergized the Cougars and their large contingency of fans who made the trip.

The third set proved to be a thrilling back-and-forth affair. There were seven lead changes and 22 ties in the set, with neither team taking a lead larger than two points. The two teams were tied at 25-25, when a Coyote attack error gave the Cougars a 26-25 lead. Azusa Pacific would have four set points, but each time CS San Bernardino answered. With the score at 29-29, an Azusa Pacific error handed the lead over to the Coyotes to make the score 30-29. Following the pattern, CS San Bernardino was unable to capitalize on set point and the Cougars tied it at 30-30 following a Radisic kill. Radisic would then give the Cougars the lead, as she recorded two consecutive kills to make it 31-30, Cougars. The Coyotes would answer and tie the set at 31-31, but Azusa Pacific would finally grab the 33-31 set win and force a fourth set with a kill each from Morrison and Miller.

In the fourth set, Azusa Pacific jumped out to a 14-9 lead. However, the Coyotes responded by going on a 7-1 run to grab a 16-15 lead. CS San Bernardino's lead was short lived, as the Cougars took four out of the next five points to go up 19-17. Azusa Pacific would not trail again in the fourth set, eventually winning and forcing a fifth and final set by way of a Miller kill for the 25-22 victory.

With the West Region championship on the line in the fifth set, the Cougars were able to take a 6-4 lead. CS San Bernardino answered back, as the Coyotes surged ahead to a 8-6 lead following four straight points won. While the Cougars hung around, eventually drawing within a one point deficit at 10-9, CS San Bernardino would pull away down the stretch and take the set and match win at 15-10.

With the loss, Azusa Pacific finishes second in the West Region. The Cougars' tournament run capped off a historic season for the program, as PacWest champion Azusa Pacific has made three consecutive West Regionals (2017, 2018 & 2019), but had not advanced past the first round in either of its first two trips. This season, Azusa Pacific earned its first NCAA Tournament victory in the first round against Cal State Los Angeles, and then added another win in the second round by knocking off the fourth-ranked team in the nation, Western Washington. The Cougars finished 28-5 overall, the third consecutive season in which Azusa Pacific finished with 22 or more wins in a season. 

Azusa Pacific will say goodbye to three seniors who participated in all three NCAA West Regionals. Julianne Miller, Sara Wagenveld and Aliyah Morrison each played their last match for the Cougars, as they led Azusa Pacific to an overall record of 90-32 during their careers. Moving into next season, the Cougars have 13 returners, including All-Region performer, libero Bailey Henington. The future is very bright for Azusa Pacific volleyball. 

AZUSA PACIFIC POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE:


CAL STATE SAN BERNARDINO POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE: