SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- The NAIA’s No. 6-ranked Point Loma Nazarene won 2 of 3 doubles to kick start its way to a 5-3 win over No. 7-ranked and second-seed Azusa Pacific in the opening round of the NAIA Region II Tournament Thursday in Santa Barbara.

With the loss, Azusa Pacific drops to 18-7 overall and is eliminated from the tournament. The Cougars will still earn an at-large berth to their sixth straight NAIA Tournament, which begins May 17 in Mobile, Ala. Point Loma Nazarene advances to tomorrow’s final and will play No. 3-ranked and top-seed Vanguard.

Peggy Bell and Christina Earnest won the Cougars’ lone doubles point knocking off Andrea Montoya and Christine LaLonde at No. 1. However, the Sea Lions, who won the other 2 doubles matches, needed just 3 points in singles to clinch the match.

Jennifer Dao, who was named to both the All-GSAC and NAIA All-Region II teams, knocked off Holli Hargrave at No. 1 (6-1, 6-0), but the Sea Lions swept through the next 3 singles matches to clinch the win. Lynn Quitoriano picked up the Cougars third point with a win at No. 5.

Singles
1 – Jennifer Dao (APU) d. Holli Hargrave 6-1, 6-0
2 – Ashley Strimple d. Mayu Sato (APU) 6-1, 6-2
3 – Andrea Montoya d. Peggy Bell (APU) 6-3, 6-4
4 – Anita Sieczka d. Christina Earnest (APU) 6-3, 6-2
5 – Lynn Quitoriano (APU) d. Crystal Richter 6-2, 6-2
6 – Christine LaLonde vs. Lindsey West (APU) DNF

Doubles
1 – Bell/Earnest d. Montoya/Lalonde 8-6
2 – Hargrave/Sieczka d. Sato/Dao 8-1
3 – Strimple/Piana d. Quitoriano/West 8-4