SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Azusa Pacific dropped to 7-8 overall and 4-3 in PacWest play, after the Cougars were beaten four sets at Point Loma on Tuesday evening. Annaka Jorgenson had a team-high 16 kills for the Cougars, Katelyn Sonnier added a season-high 10 kills, Paige Johnstone registered five service aces and 19 blocks, while Kyra Palmbush and Mackenzie Jensen each had a solo block and three block assists, and Kendyl Macaskill contributed four block assists.

How It Happened:  After the Cougars fell 25-17 in the opening set, the visitors were able to level the score in the second set, as they fought off a late 24-22 deficit by winning five of the next six points to pull out a 27-25 set win. Palmbush won the final point of the set for the Cougars with a kill, which was assisted by Trinitee Carroll.  

In the third set, Point Loma took the momentum back as it held the lead for the entirety of the frame, and the Sea Lions strung together scoring runs of three or more points on five different occasions.

Azusa Pacific held a 6-5 lead in the fourth set, but Point Loma would quickly level the score before taking a 7-6 lead, which was an advantage that the hosts would not surrender for the remainder of the contest.

By the Numbers:  Point Loma posted the highest team hitting percentage of any Cougar opponent this season, finishing with 69 kills on 144 attempts for a .354 average. On the other side of the net, the Cougars finished with 46 kills on 128 attempts, for an average of .242. Point Loma currently leads the PacWest in hitting percentage this season (.248), while the Cougars are currently third in the conference at .224 this season. Azusa Pacific's last five losses have all come in four sets.

Up Next:  The Cougars will be back on the road this Friday, with a trip to Westmont in Santa Barbara on the schedule. The 7:00 pm match will serve as a reintroduction of former GSAC rivals, as Westmont is in its first year of competition in the PacWest, having just moved up from the NAIA ranks to Division II. Dating back to 1976, Azusa Pacific and Westmont has faced off 79 times, with the Cougars leading the all-time series, 45-34. The last meeting was in the spring of 2021, when the Cougars fought back from an 0-2 deficit to capture a five set road victory (15-25, 23-25, 30-28, 25-22, 18-16).