MOBILE, Ala. -- Azusa Pacific has been a familiar face at the NAIA Tournament. While their faces have been familiar, their visits have been short.

A trip to the NAIA quarterfinals has been something that has eluded Azusa Pacific women’s tennis, which has gone 2-4 since the NAIA adopted match-play in 2000. The Cougars have made a pair of Sweet 16 appearances, but fell short of the round of 8 in both trips.

History was erased today in Mobile, Ala., as the seventh-seed Cougars knocked off No. 10-ranked and unseeded Berry (Ga.), 5-2, in the second round of the 2004 NAIA Women’s Tennis National Tournament to advance to the quarterfinals for the first time in the program’s brief 7-year history.

With the win, the No. 7-ranked Cougars improve to 19-7, while Berry drops to 19-7. The win is also the Cougars’ first at the national tournament since 2002.

Azusa Pacific received a first-round bye while Berry had to play yesterday, and the extra rest proved beneficial. The Cougars quickly jumped out to a 2-1 lead after taking Nos. 1 and 3 doubles. The match then became a sprint to 5, and while Berry earned another point at No. 4 singles, the Cougars took advantage of some fine play from the bottom of its line-up as well as the All-Region II and All-GSAC selection Jennifer Dao at No. 1.

Lynn Quitoriano, who played in this same tournament each of the past 2 years with Westmont, showed her veteran savvy at No. 5. She knocked off Ana Dorado (6-2, 6-1) to move to a perfect 3-0 all-time at the NAIA Tournament. Lindsey West, an All-American basketball player who joined the team midseason, collected another point when she defeated Katie LaBauve (6-2, 6-0) at No. 6.

Dao picked up her 21st win of the season with a 6-3, 6-0 win over Marcela Velez at No. 1 singles.

The Cougars, who are making their sixth straight tournament appearance, advance to the quarterfinals for the first time in school history. The challenge doesn’t get any easier as they now play No. 2 seed and defending champion Northwood (Fla.), a 5-0 winner over Virginia Intermont today. First serve is scheduled for Wednesday at 9 a.m.

Singles
1 - Jennifer Dao (APU) def. Marcela Velez (BC), 6-3; 6-0
2 - Mayu Sato (APU) vs. Patricia Llaguno (BC), DNF
3 - Peggy Bell (APU) vs. Diana Cooley (BC), DNF
4 - Marine Eberhardt (BC) def. Christine Earnest (APU), 6-2; 6-2
5 - Lynn Quitoriano (APU) def. Ana Dorado (BC), 6-2; 6-1
6 - Lindsey West (APU) def. Katie LaBauve (BC), 6-2; 6-0

Doubles
1 - Bell/Earnest (APU) def. Llaguno/Cooley (BC), 8-4
2 – Velez/Eberhardt (BC) def. Sato/Dao (APU), 8-5
3 - Quitoriano/West (APU) def. Dorado/LaBauve (BC), 8-2