AZUSA, Calif. — Azusa Pacific volleyball suffered its first setback of the season Thursday night inside the Felix Event Center, falling 3–1 (20–25, 25–17, 25–21, 25–19) to Cal State Dominguez Hills. Despite the loss, the evening featured two major career milestones, as Jackie Winfield recorded her 300th career kill and Brooklyn Kostoff soared past the 900 career assist mark.

Match Recap

It opened the night strong, riding an efficient offense to take the first set 25–20. Winfield set the tone early with five kills from the outside, while Sarah Wilson and Flora Sebestyen powered the attack at the net. APU hit .262 in the opening frame, controlling the pace and quieting the Toros' big swings.

Momentum swung in the second as Dominguez Hills hit .433 as a team and surged to a 25–17 win, evening the match at one set apiece. The third was a back-and-forth battle with 10 ties and eight lead changes. Winfield's ninth kill of the night—a sharp-angle swing from the left side—marked her 300th career kill across her time at Sonoma State and Azusa Pacific, drawing applause from teammates and fans. Despite the milestone, the Toros pulled away late for a 25–21 victory.

In the fourth, APU fought to extend the match, but Dominguez Hills' balanced offense proved too much down the stretch. The Toros sealed the match with a 25–19 win, handing the Cougars their first loss of 2025.

Milestone Performances

• Winfield finished with a match-high 18 kills on .269 hitting to go with 12 digs, crossing the 300 career kill plateau in the third set.

• Kostoff distributed 40 assists and added seven digs, surpassing 900 career assists as she continues to cement herself as one of the program's most reliable playmakers.

Team Leaders

Alongside Winfield, Sebestyen added 14 kills and 10 digs for a double-double, while Wilson contributed 10 kills on .276 hitting. Medrano anchored the back row with 20 digs, keeping rallies alive and steadying the Cougar defense.

As a team, Azusa Pacific hit .235 compared to Dominguez Hills' .262. The Cougars recorded six service aces and five players tallied multiple blocks, but the Toros' efficiency in the final three sets was the difference.

Looking Ahead

Azusa Pacific (3–1) looks to bounce back quickly as it continues tournament play this weekend. With Winfield and Kostoff's milestones now achieved, the Cougars will aim to refocus and build on the consistency that marked their unbeaten start to the season.