Box Score AZUSA, Calif. – Dominican women's volleyball was defeated by Azusa Pacific University in three sets (25-13, 25-10, 25-22) Friday night at the Felix Event Center.
The Penguins (9-14, 8-7 PacWest) were able to keep it close early in the first set, using a kill from junior
Kate Even to cut the deficit to 5-4. The Cougars (18-4, 11-3 PacWest) went on a 4-0 run from there to open it up, capped by a block from Sara Wagenveld and Aliyah Morrison. Senior
Aimee Steinwand helped Dominican get back into it with a kill, cutting Azusa Pacific's lead to 13-9. Steinwand notched another kill to make it 16-10 before the Cougars responded with a 5-0 run, forcing the Penguins to take a timeout. Dominican was unable to get much going after the break and Azusa Pacific finished the set on a kill from Natalie Klapp.
The Cougars quickly jumped out to a large lead in the second set, going on an 8-0 run to start things off, leading to a timeout from the Penguins. Down 20-5, Dominican scored three consecutive points on a kill from senior
Susanna Pilkerton, a service ace from Even and another Steinwand kill. The Penguins got to within 11 after an attack error by Azusa Pacific but the Cougars ended the match on a 4-0 run, capped by a kill from Julianne Miller.
Dominican was more competitive in the third set, taking their first lead of the match after a service ace from Hana Wyles put them ahead 3-2. After falling behind 11-7 on a kill from Miller, the Penguins scored three consecutive points on a pair of attack errors from the Cougars and a kill from junior
Cat Thomason. Azusa Pacific jumped back ahead 15-10 but the Penguins would not go away, cutting it to 15-13 on another error from the Cougars. Steinwand recorded a service ace to bring Dominican within one at 16-15 and Thomason cut it to 17-16. A quick 3-0 run for Azusa Pacific ended on a kill from Even. The Penguins got as close as 23-22 as Steinwand teamed up with junior
Brittany Latigue for a block. The Cougars finished the set with a kill from Miller and an error from Dominican.
The Penguins take the floor again Saturday at Biola for a 7 p.m. start. Live stats and video will be available online.
