AZUSA, Calif. – The Cougar volleyball team earned their third win in four games, making quick work of Academy of Art in a 3-0 sweep (25-16, 25-20, 25-13) Thursday evening inside the Felix Event Center.

How It Happened:  The Cougar offense came out of the gate firing, opening the game on an 8-2 run in which they recorded five kills on their first six attacks.  While Academy of Art would come back and briefly take a 12-11 lead, the Cougars would reassert themselves with an 8-1 run to take the lead for good in the first set.  Azusa Pacific would hit .472 in the first set, with 18 kills in all.  Annaka Jorgenson had seven of those kills, putting consecutive attacks away to clinch the set 25-16.

Academy of Art opened the second set with a 5-1 outburst, but Azusa Pacific quickly responded with a 7-1 run.  The Urban Knights would tie up the set on seven occasions, lastly at 16-16, but from there the Cougars would string together another 7-1 run through three kills, two blocks, an error, and a service ace.  An Ioanna Georgatzi kill provided the final point to take the set.

The third set was close through the first 20 or so points, as Academy of Art were able to keep it close as far as 11-10.  But the Cougars put their foot on the gas, stringing together a 9-1 run and winning 14 of the last 17 points overall to complete the Cougars' 13th sweep of the season.

By the Numbers:  The Cougars hit .349 for the match, with 44 kills and only 7 errors on the night, while holding the Urban Knights to .093 as a team.  Jorgenson had a team-high 17 kills and 15 digs.  Dayton Robinett got the start at libero and had 16 digs herself.  Kendyl Macaskill had five block assists out of 10 blocks for the team, while Georgatzi had a solo block and three assists.  In addition to dishing out 21 assists, Aubrea Banfield also served up two aces, giving her 63 on the year, five shy of the program's single-season record.

Up Next:  The Cougars (15-12, 11-7 PacWest) will close out their home schedule next Thursday against Concordia at 6:00 p.m.  The team will honor their seniors Banfield, Katarina Radisic, and Kaitlin Craig at that match, which can be livestreamed HERE.