Too Heavy A Load

Box Score CLAREMONT, Calif. – When the offense doesn't click, the defense must carry the load, but tonight the load was too heavy.

Led by Phoebe Shorney and Ashlee Sento, who combined for 23 kills and an impressive .488 attack percentage, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps avenged a 5-set loss last month by sweeping through Azusa Pacific, 25-19, 25-15, 25-15, in the Cougars' first-ever visit to Roberts Pavilion Tuesday night.

Throughout the evening Azusa Pacific simply could not counter-punch the Athenas' efficient and relentless offensive attack. While CMS hit at an impressive .316 clip with just 12 attack errors, a frustrated set of Cougars struggled at the net, committing a hefty 21 errors while hitting at a paltry .094 pace. In 4 of APU's 5 losses this year, they have committed over 20 errors, and tonight was the second time they've managed less than a .100 attack percentage.

The Cougars were leading 9-8 in the opening set when CMS went on a 7-1 run to take a comfortable 15-10 lead and held APU at bay the rest of the way.

In a similar fashion, the second set used a recognizable script as Azusa Pacific assumed an 7-6 lead only to see the Athenas turn up the heat and take 9 of the set's next 13 points to assume another cushy lead at 15-11. CMS pushed the advantage to an insurmountable 21-13 advantage thanks in part to 3 straight Cougar attack errors.

In the third set, the Athenas refused to let the Cougars catch their collective breath, scoring the set's first 5 points which they propelled into a 16-3 lead. Ari Clarkson collected 4 of her 5 kills in the match during an Athena 8-0 run that squashed any thought of a Cougar comeback.
Senior Jackie Winfield tallied a team-high 8 kills on 25 swings (.200) for Azusa Pacific, while Brynja Martin collected 6 kills. The Cougars mustered just 3 blocks against the Athena offense and 38 digs off 98 attacks.

With the loss, Azusa Pacific falls to 24-5, while CMS, which has won 8 of its past 10, improves to 14-10 on the season.

Azusa Pacific closes out the regular-season Saturday (Nov. 7) against Pomona-Pitzer at 11 a.m. in the Felix Event Center.

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Players Mentioned

#13 Jackie Winfield: OH; 5' 8"; Senior

#16 Brynja Martin: OH; 5' 10"; Redshirt Senior

Players Mentioned

#13 Jackie Winfield
: 5' 8"; Senior
: OH

#16 Brynja Martin
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Senior
: OH

Players Mentioned

#13 Jackie Winfield

#16 Brynja Martin

Players Mentioned

#13 Jackie Winfield

#16 Brynja Martin