Cougars Swept in First Regional Contest

FRESNO, Calif. -- Fresno Pacific needed only 70 minutes to earn a 15–12, 15-4, 15-5 win over Azusa Pacific in an NAIA Region II semifinal in the Special Events Center Friday night. The win advances the Sunbirds the p.m.

The win also advances the Sunbirds to the NAIA championship tournament in Palm Beach Florida later this month. It will be the Sunbirds seventh consecutive trip to the national championship tournament. Earlier this week the NAIA national tournament selection committee awarded in at-large berth to the Region II runner-up and a provisional birth to the third place finisher.

Point Loma swept Biola 15–7, 15-10, 15-13, and the other semifinal.

Patricia Bernardo led to Sunbirds (23–10) with 16 kills. Micheleen Issa had 11 kills and Heather Bispham and Beth Bueller chipped in with 9 and 8 kills, respectively

"Taking nothing away from Fresno Pacific," said the Cougars Gerry Gregory, "they played well, but we weren't very sharp. We couldn't hang with them and then our discipline broke down. ""

Christy Kimmel led the Cougars (23–9) with 9 kills.

Print Friendly Version