AZUSA, Calif. – The Cougars season came to a close, though not before dragging Fresno Pacific as far as they could before falling in five sets on the floor of the Felix Event Center on Saturday.  Kendyl MacAskill set a career high with 23 kills in defeat.

How It Happened: The first set was as closely contested as any the Cougars have played all season long, seeing 19 ties and 8 lead changes.  Neither team led by more than two at any time, with the longest run by either side a four-point stretch by Azusa Pacific that turned a two-point deficit into a 17-15 lead thanks to three consecutive MacAskill kills. MacAskill's next kill would be on set point as the Cougars eked out a 25-23 set.

After a similar start to the second set, it looked as if the Cougars had found some breathing room, going on a 5-0 run to take a 16-11 lead.  But the Sunbirds chipped away, eventually caught the Cougars at 20, then kept charging ahead, closing the set on a 10-3 run to level the match.  The momentum the Sunbirds gained from that rally carried over into a dominant third set, with Fresno Pacific jumping out to a 10-3 lead and never looking back.  The Sunbirds rattled off five aces in the set which, combined with a .375 hitting percentage, translated into a 25-15 set and a 2-1 lead in the match.

The fourth set was largely a mirror image of the third, as this time it was the Cougars coming up with three aces and three blocks, while holding the Sunbirds to as many errors as they had kills in the fourth.  Sarah Wilson shone on offense with seven kills in the set, while MacAskill delivered consecutive kills to close it out and send the match to a decisive fifth frame.  Fresno Pacific led throughout the fifth, jumping out to a 6-1 lead, but the Cougars refused to go quietly into the off-season.  Just two points nts from defeat, the Cougars rattled off five in a row to climb within 13-12.  But the Sunbirds got a kill and a block following a timeout to bring the season to a close.

By the Numbers:  MacAskill closed out the game with 23 kills, with Wilson close behind on 21.  Wilson made it a double-double with 16 digs, which tied Mia Medrano for the team lead.  Setter Brooke Bunker had 11 digs in her final collegiate game, while Brooklyn Kostoff dished out 49 assists and 3 aces.  Middle blocker Anya Green closed out her single season at Azusa Pacific with 9 kills and 3 blocks, giving her a PacWest-leading 113 on the season.  Fresno Pacific leads the all-time series 68-24, though the Cougars have won 15 of the last 20.

While the Cougars will miss Green, Bunker, and fellow senior Delaney Tate, the outside hitting duo of MacAskill and Wilson provide a solid foundation for 2025 as the Cougars will look to improve on their 15-12 record this season.