AZUSA, CALIF. – The NAIA's No. 22-ranked Azusa Pacific, which has qualified for the NAIA playoffs for the first time since 1996, is headed into the postseason on a high note.  The Cougars upset No. 12-ranked Biola, 15-9, 8-15, 15-11, 13-15, 15-0, to post their first victory over the Eagles since 1995.
 
The 2 teams traded streaks throughout the match, but the Cougars got the last and the biggest streak of them all, scoring 15 straight to win game 5 and the match.
 
Five Cougars tallied double figures in kills, led by freshman Jenna  Sagehorn's match-high 21. Senior Lydia Ayala finished with a season-high 19 kills, while freshman Christy Kimmel added 13. Kimmel added a match-high 4 service aces and 5 blocks.
 
Sophomore T.J. Gause had 13 kills and tied Sagehorn for a match-high 19 digs, while junior Tishanna Pope tallied 10 kills.
 
The win gives Azusa Pacific its fourth straight win as it heads into the first round of the NAIA Region II Playoffs. The No. 4-seeded Cougars will host No. 5 seed Westmont next Tuesday at 7 p.m., with the winner advancing to the remainder of the tournament to be played Nov. 17-18 at No. 1-seeded Fresno Pacific.
 

GAME STATS

Biola             9  15  11  15   0
Azusa Pacific    15   8  15  13  15
 
Kills:   Sagehorn (APU) 21, Ayala (APU) 19,
         Kimmel (APU) 13, Gause (APU) 13,
         Boesel (BU) 12, Mitchell (BU) 11
 
Blocks:  Gallaher (BU), Murray (BU) and
         Kimmel (APU) 5, Mitchell (BU) and
         Rouwenhorst (BU) 3
Digs:    Gause (APU) and Sagehorn (APU) 19,
         Kimmel (APU) 17, Gallaher (BU) 16
Aces:    Kimmel (APU) and Logsdon (BU) 4