Box Score 25-27, 25-20, 25-15, 15-25, 10-15

AZUSA, Calif.— After consecutive straight set victories since switching libero Nichole May to outside hitter, the Cal State San Marcos women's volleyball team played strong once again, but came up just short in knocking off longtime NAIA powerhouse Azusa Pacific Tuesday evening at the Felix Event Center in Azusa, Calif.
 
In fact, the Cougars were just one first set point away from a three set sweep of the identically named Cougars from Azusa, who are in their probationary period with the NCAA. After Taylor DeGraaf's back-to-back kills turned a 24-23 deficit in the first set into a 25-24 advantage, Azusa Pacific won the final three points of the set to go up 1-0.
 
CSUSM remained undeterred however, and kept the pressure on APU to win both the second and third sets with little resistance.
 
However, after a service error by Azusa Pacific evened the score at 3 in the fourth set, APU went on a 13-1 run that essentially sent the game to a final set.
 
In the fifth set, things looked bleak for San Marcos after they dropped the first four points, but the Cougars rallied back to even the score at nine. Unfazed by the comeback, Azusa Pacific took six of the final seven points to win the set and the match in what was an exciting duel between two outstanding programs.
 
Taylor DeGraaf led the Cougars with 19 kills, and recorded 13 digs as well to notch a double-double. Nichole May also tallied a double-double of her own with 11 kills and 11 digs, and freshman Andi Vordermann had a huge game with 15 kills and a team best .275 hitting percentage.  Vordermann also had a team leading four blocks at the net.
 
In just her third games as a libero, Jaycee Arthur continued to look like a veteran at the position, posting 28 digs— the second highest total in school history. Setter Alyssa Foster just missed a double-double with nine digs and 54 assists, the fifth highest totals of her career and in school history.
 
With the loss, CSUSM drops to 20-12 on the season, while Azusa Pacific improved to 16-7. The Cougars will look to bounce back quickly Wednesday as they will hit the road once again to face conference rival La Sierra in Riverside.