EL CAJON, Calif. -- Three-time NAIA All-American Jenna Sagehorn and All-GSAC sophomore Jenny Brickner each had 13 kills apiece, but it was Azusa Pacific's defense that vaulted the NAIA's No. 15-ranked Cougars to a tight 5-game (27-30, 14-30, 30-26, 30-26, 15-13) GSAC road win over Christian Heritage.

The Cougars were out-hit offensive both in total kills (75-49) and hitting percentage (.175-.143), but they managed to do their damage on the defensive side of the net out-blocking Christian Heritage 16-4.

Brickner finished with 9 blocks, the third time this year she has reached that total. Christy D'Jernes added 7 blocks to go along with her 7 kills and 14 digs.

Sagehorn added 7 blocks and a match-high 16 digs. With 1,454 career kills, she needs just 61 more to become Azusa Pacific's career kills leader (1,515).

With the win, Azusa Pacific, who moved up 3 spots to No. 15 in today's NAIA Top 25 Poll, improves to 12-4 overall, 4-1 GSAC. Christian Heritage drops to 10-5, 3-3.