Box Score

Tuesday night featured a battle of top GSAC teams with #7 Azusa Pacific avenging an earlier season loss to #8 Fresno Pacific 3-1 (25-17, 22-25, 25-16, 25-21), bringing the teams into a tie for second place in the conference.

The Sunbirds (12-6, 8-3 GSAC) hadn't lost to the Cougars (21-5, 8-3 GSAC) since 1994, snapping an incredible 41-match winning streak against a team consistently among the NAIA's top athletic programs.

Martina Gregusova, who was named NAIA Player of the Week earlier in the day, led the Sunbirds with 18 kills. Kathleen Anderson added 16, but the Sunbirds were limited to a .156 attack percentage on the night.

APU on the other hand saw its outside hitters hitting on all cylinders, led by Whittany Radcliffe who, though she had been limited the first time the teams played, recorded a match-high 21 kills on .465 hitting. Jackie Landers added 16 kills for the Cougars, who never trailed in any of the three sets they won.

"Azusa played as well as I've seen them play," said FPU coach Kelly Winter. "They covered the court defensively and attacked well out of system. We struggled to get a ball down on their side."

Even in FPU's win in the second set, the Sunbirds hit just .180, though they did limit APU to .130. In set three the Sunbirds didn't show their usual fight, trailing 16-14 before allowing the Cougars to finish the set on a 9-2 run. The team would come within three points of the Cougars on numerous occasions in the fourth set as Anderson, Gregusova and Jessie Alcorn attempted to lead the team back, but couldn't pull any closer in the 25-22 loss.

Alcorn finished with 10 kills and 11 digs, but 14 errors to end up in the negatives with her attack percentage. Anderson led the team with four blocks and had just two errors on her 16 kills, for a .400 attack percentage. Erica Adachi dished out 26 assists with Emily Carroll adding 24. Adachi and Kailey Allen led the defense with 18 digs apiece, Carroll and Gregusova each added 15.

Robin Portela led the Cougars with 21 digs, while Raechel Jones matched Adachi with 26 assists. APU moves on to play at #17 Point Loma Nazarene on Saturday.

The Sunbirds remain on the road this Saturday and will be back in Southern California to face Hope International at 3 pm in Fullerton. The Royals (5-18, 1-10 GSAC) took a set from FPU in Fresno before falling earlier this season. HIU has never defeated the Sunbirds.

Around the GSAC
Vanguard 3, San Diego Christian (H) 0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-16)
Westmont 3, The Master's (H) 1 (25-19, 25-27, 26-24, 25-19)
Biola 3, Hope International (H) 0 (25-21, 25-10, 25-17)
Concordia 3, Point Loma Nazarene (H) 1 (21-25, 25-17, 25-16, 29-27)