AZUSA, Calif.--In a match that would have a lot to say about who is in the driver's seat of the Pacific West Conference race, host Azusa Pacific slid comfortably behind the wheel with a sweep of Hawai`i Hilo on Thursday night at the Felix Events Center.

The Cougars took down the Vulcans, 25-21, 25-22, 25-22 to move two games ahead of UH HIlo with a week and a half left in the season. The Cougars are now 17-2 in the PacWest (23-4 overall), while UHH is 15-4 in league play and 20-7 on the year.

The Vulcans will finish this road trip on Saturday at Concordia, and then play home matches against Holy Names and Academy of Art. The Cougars still have Hawaii Pacific, Concordia and Fresno Pacific left on their schedule.

The Vulcans and Cougars split their season series, with the Vulcans winning in HIlo (3-2).

Emily Wade led the Vulcans and all players with 16 kills. Bria Beale had eight kills and 11 digs, and Kaila Lizama had 15 digs. Aliyah Morrison led the Cougars with 14 kills.

APU was in control for most of the match. They never trailed in the first set (25-21), and jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the second set and went on to win, 25-22. The third set was familiar to the first, with the home team blitzing out to a 8-2 margin and holding off a late Vulcan rush to clinch the match, 25-22. 

UH HIlo hit just .151 in the match. They had 43 kills to APU's 46, but they also had 21 attack errors to the Cougars' 15 errors.

The Vulcans, winners of 15 of their last 17 matches, will wrap up their southern California trip with a Saturday match in Irvine versus Concordia. Start time is 5 pm Pacific.


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