AZUSA, Calif. – As the end of the season continues to edge closer, Azusa Pacific earned its tenth Conference win of the season, defeating Hawai'i Pacific 3-1. It marked the Cougars' fifth straight win over Hawai'i Pacific, following four consecutive sweeps of the Sharks in the past two years.
Kendyl MacAskill posted a season-best 16 kills across four sets, finishing with a .250 hitting percentage.
Sarah Wilson added 14 kills in the win over Hawai'i Pacific, marking her sixth consecutive game with 10+ kills.
Continuing to lead the team,
Anya Green posted an efficient .476 hitting percentage, raising her season average to .409, which ranks second in the Conference. She also recorded six blocks in the match, pushing her average to a Conference-leading 1.2 blocks per set.
How it Happened: In the first set, Hawai'i Pacific claimed a 25-20 victory, marking the Sharks' first set win over the Cougars since 2021. Hawai'i Pacific was propelled by a second-point scoring run and a stellar .412 hitting percentage in the opening frame.
The second set saw a shift as the Cougars made adjustments, holding the Sharks to a .094 hitting percentage. Azusa Pacific, which had hit .244 in the first set, improved to .333 in the second.
Sarah Wilson's seven kills helped propel the Cougars to a 25-18 win. At one point, Azusa Pacific went on an eight-point run during
Makayla Chiechi's serve.
The third set remained tight early on, but an eight-point scoring run on
Brooklyn Kostoff's serve helped the Cougars finish with a 25-18 win.
In the final set, Azusa Pacific mounted two separate five-point scoring runs, closing out the match 25-17. The Cougars were firing on all cylinders, finishing with an impressive .483 hitting percentage in the fourth set alone.
By the Numbers: Although the Sharks came out strong, the Cougars took control and dominated in all key areas. Azusa Pacific out-blocked Hawai'i Pacific 9-7, out-served them 7-4 in aces, and posted a season-best hitting percentage of .319 compared to the Sharks' .207, despite Hawai'i Pacific's impressive .412 in the first set. Additionally, the Sharks committed 25 errors, while the Cougars kept their mistakes to just 12.
Up Next: Azusa Pacific will close out the 2024 volleyball season with its final three home matches. The Cougars begin the week on Wednesday with a rematch against nationally-ranked Point Loma, who suffered their first loss of the season last night to Chaminade. The team will then face Academy of Art on Friday before wrapping up the season with Senior Day on Saturday against Fresno Pacific, with the match scheduled to start at 1 p.m.
