AZUSA, Calif. – The Cougar volleyball team came close on multiple occasions but ultimately fell in five sets to Fresno Pacific in a spirited 25-20, 24-26, 18-25, 28-26, 16-14 match Friday evening in the Felix Event Center.
How It Happened: The offense for both teams was on fire in the first set, with the two sides each hitting over .300 for the better part of the opening frame and 13 players picking up a kill in the process. The Cougars held a narrow lead for much of the set, but a 7-1 run, including five points in a row, lifted the Sunbirds to a 25-20 margin.
The momentum the Sunbirds built late in the first set carried over into the second, as they again found an 8-1 run to take control of the set, and would hold a four-point margin at 23-19. But the Cougars staged a dramatic rally of their own, winning five straight points to serve for the set, and eventually prevailing after a Sunbird attack sailed out of bounds to complete a 7-1 run of their own. Annaka Jorgenson had seven kills in the set.
In the third, the early part of the set was back and forth as the teams evenly divided the first 20 points. But that was the moment Azusa Pacific took control, going on a 10-2 run to gain a lead in the set they would not relinquish. The run even included five straight points for the Cougars following a Fresno Pacific timeout.
After spotting the Sunbirds a small lead in the fourth, the Cougars again unleashed a large run, this time a 10-1 burst that put them ahead 14-9 in the fourth set and it looked like they might have their first non-sweep victory of the season. But it was not to be as the Sunbirds came back to take a two-point advantage at 22-20, and while the Cougars fought off three set points, Fresno Pacific ultimately took the fourth set, 28-26.
The Sunbirds never trailed in the final set, building a 7-1 lead. Azusa Pacific fought back, winning five straight points, and eventually pulled even twice, but consecutive kills by the Sunbirds brought the five-set match to a close.
By the Numbers: Jorgenson had a career-high 27 kills to go along with 12 digs. She was joined in double figures in the kill category by Kyra Palmbush (14) and Kaitlin Craig (11). Libero Hailey Patino had 18 digs on the back row, while setter Aubrea Banfield had 12 digs and five aces while dishing out 46 assists and even figuring into three of the Cougars' nine blocks. Palmbush and Delaney Dunham each had a solo block and three block assists.
Up Next: Azusa Pacific (11-9, 7-4 PacWest) will have little time to recover as they will be back in action tomorrow afternoon against Point Loma. First serve in the Event Center is set for 3:00 p.m., and the game can be streamed live HERE.
