By Beth Renkoski

10/31/09

Cougars Cage Lions in Three Sets

Costa Mesa, Calif. – The No. 10-ranked Vanguard Lions continue a rough stretch of their season, playing an NAIA top five team for the third match in a row and losing their third straight GSAC match. Tonight the Lions faced No. 5-ranked Azusa Pacific and lost 3-0 by match scores of 25-20, 25-21, and 25-23.

The Lions trailed early in set one, but senior outside hitter Kelsey Wirt tied the set 15-15 on one of her five kills in the opening contest. However, the Cougars scored the next four points to establish a lead that would hold for a 25-20 victory and a 1-0 cushion in the match.

No more than three points separated the teams through the majority of the second set with the Lions holding a brief early lead before the Cougars pulled ahead. Trailing 16-18, the Lions called a timeout and immediately pulled within a point of the visitors from Azusa. Senior Heather DeJongh slammed a kill to bring the Lions back to a one-point deficit, 19-20, forcing an APU timeout as the hosts would not give in. Leading 21-20, Azusa out-scored the Lions 4-1 to finish set two 25-21 and take a commanding 2-0 advantage.

Vanguard battled again in the third set, charging out to a 3-0 lead and maintaining an edge until the Cougars tied the score 13-13 on a Vanguard attacking error. Back-to-back kills by DeJongh put Vanguard back on top 19-17, only to see the Cougars score the next two points. However Wirt smashed the go-ahead kill (22-21) for Vanguard, temporarily renewing VU’s hope of extending the match. Once again, the Cougars would respond with a 4-1 run for the match-clinching victory, 25-23.

Jill Baker and Amy Alkazin led the Cougars with 11 kills apiece while setters Raechel Jones and Sophie Burns combined for 40 assists in the sweep. Baker and Robin Portela paced Azusa defensively with 15 digs each as the Cougars sweep the season series with the Lions. APU improves to 20-7 overall and improve to 11-4 in GSAC with five matches to play.

Wirt topped all players with 13 kills, followed by DeJongh with 10 kills for the Lions. Meghan Walsh collected 35 assists and libero Ariel Strickler corralled a match-high 19 digs on defense. Sophomore Jamie Heenan, freshman Candace Cedarstrom, and DeJongh had three blocks apiece as the Lions drop to 15-10 overall and 9-7 in GSAC with four matches remaining to the regular season.

The Lions travel to Westmont next Tuesday for their next match, taking on the Warriors in a 7:00 p.m. match in Santa Barbara.

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