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Azusa Pacific University Athletics

The Online Home of the Azusa Pacific Cougars
Block1 - VB 2026
Mick Wilson
0
Redlands UR 3-8
3
Winner Azusa Pacific APU 14-0
Redlands UR
3-8
0
Final
3
Azusa Pacific APU
14-0
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 F
Redlands UR 21 16 15 (0)
Azusa Pacific APU 25 25 25 (3)
0
Westcliff West 0-4
3
Winner Azusa Pacific APU 15-0,2-0 SCIAC
Westcliff West
0-4
0
Final
3
Azusa Pacific APU
15-0,2-0 SCIAC
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 F
Westcliff West 14 21 22 (0)
Azusa Pacific APU 25 25 25 (3)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball |

New Kid On the Block

AZUSA, Calif. – Azusa Pacific has another year to wait before its matches officially count in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) standings, but the Cougars still are establishing a name.

Behind a stifling defense that produced 9 blocks and 43 digs in just 3 sets, Azusa Pacific swept the University of Redlands, 25-21, 25-16, 25-15, Saturday afternoon in the Felix Event Center.

As she has throughout the season, All-America candidate Sarah Wilson led the Cougars on both sides of the net, registering match highs of 13 kills and 2.5 blocks while adding 7 digs. Junior Jacey Loewen added 10 kills on .429 hitting and assisted on 3 blocks, while senior Jackie Winfield finished with 9 kills and a solo block.

A crisp Redlands opened the match aggressively, racing to a 4-0 lead and extending the advantage to 8-3 before Azusa Pacific found its footing. The Cougars twice worked their way back into the set, closing to 8-6 and then 12-11, but Redlands continued to keep APU at arm's length. A kill by freshman Jaycee Hullar gave the Bulldogs a 15-14 lead.

With the set tied at 19, however, Azusa Pacific's power game took over. Loewen, Winfield and Wilson combined for five kills over the Cougars' final six points, fueling a 6-2 closing run that secured the opening set.
After being tested in the first frame, Azusa Pacific settled into a cleaner and more efficient rhythm. An 8-1 run midway through the second set broke it open and handed the Cougars a commanding 19-10 advantage.
APU was even more decisive in the third, using a 16-2 run to turn an early battle into a 19-7 lead. Seven Redlands attack errors aided the surge, including 4 caused by Cougar blocks, while 2 Bulldog service errors helped Azusa Pacific pull away and complete the sweep.

The victory was Azusa Pacific's 14th straight to open the season, establishing a program record for the best start in program history. The Cougars eclipsed the previous mark of 13 consecutive victories first set by the 2011 team.

Azusa Pacific, however, was not finished for the day.

Nearly 3 hours later, the Cougars returned to the floor to host Westcliff in the programs' first-ever meeting, and APU followed a familiar script. Behind another relentless defensive effort that generated 9 more blocks and 45 digs, Azusa Pacific dispatched the Warriors in straight sets, 25-14, 25-21, 25-22.

Senior Flora Sebestyen traded the libero jersey she has worn throughout the season for a spot on the front row and provided a reminder of her versatility. Sebestyen recorded a match-high 11 kills on 29 attacks, including the match-clinching kill that halted a late 5-1 Westcliff run and closed out the third set.

Senior Brynja Martin added eight kills on 30 attempts, while freshman Victoria Miller turned in the finest performance of her young collegiate career. Miller recorded 5 kills on 10 attacks and shared match-high honors with 2.5 blocks.

The 2 victories improved Azusa Pacific to 15-0 on the season, while Redlands fell to 3-8 and Westcliff moved to 4-12.

Azusa Pacific puts its unbeaten record and 15-match winning streak on the line Tuesday (Sept. 29), when the Cougars host Whittier College at 6 p.m. in the Felix Event Center.
 
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