DENVER, Colo. - Azusa Pacific fell in straight sets to No. 5 West Florida on Friday morning to open its four-match weekend at the Premier Challenge.
Kaitlin Craig and Annaka Jorgenson notched a team-high eight kills, while Katarina Radisic and Delaney Dunham added seven apiece. Dunham posted a hitting percentage of 64% (11 attempts), while Craig finished at 58% (12 attempts). Aubrea Banfield had 20 assists and a pair of service aces. Selena Balderas tallied a match-best 11 digs.
How It Happened: While the Cougars would not lead at any point in the first set, they managed to keep the score within a point or two for most of the opening frame, and there were five ties in the set. With the score 18-17 in favor of West Florida, the Argonauts won three straight points to grab their largest lead of the set to that point at 21-17. With the score 23-18, Azusa Pacific would win four of the next five points to make it 24-22, but a kill by West Florida's Camila Vasquez would serve as the set-clinching point.
After West Florida raced out to a quick 12-5 lead in the second set, the Cougars would win five straight points to pull back within two at 12-10. That would be the closest Azusa Pacific would get, as the Argonauts steadily built a cushion over the remainder of the second to win by an eventual 25-18 tally.
The Cougars' first lead of the match would come in the third, when they went up 3-2, and while they held three different advantages throughout the set, the lead would get no greater than one. With the score locked at 12-12, the Argonauts would win four straight points to jump up 16-12. Azusa Pacific would fight back, pulling within one at 18-17, and then again at 20-19. However, West Florida would close out the match by winning five out of the next six points for a 25-20 set and match victory.
By The Numbers: After the Cougars opened the match with a season-best hitting percentage of 41% (12 kills on 27 attempts with just one error), their efficiency dropped over the next two sets, and Azusa Pacific finished at 8% in the third (13 kills on 36 attempts with 10 errors). West Florida registered 50 kills, which is the most that a Cougar opponent has had so far this season, and just 16 attack errors by the Argonauts is the fewest by an opponent this season. At the net, the Argonauts posted a 9-5 block advantage. As a team, Azusa Pacific finished with 26 digs, which is its fewest number this season.
Up Next: The Cougars continue action this afternoon, when they take on another nationally-ranked opponent in No. 15 Wayne State (Neb.) at 2:30 pm MT (1:30 pm PT). To watch the match, click here, and to follow the live stats, check out this link.
