SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Point Loma split the season series with Azusa Pacific, claiming a 6-3 win against the Cougars, who entered the contest undefeated against NCAA Division II programs in California this season.

Match Results

The loss to the No. 8 team in the West Region ended the No. 3 Cougars' seven-match winning streak a day before a crucial clash with No. 4 UC San Diego. With BYU-Hawaii and Hawai`i Pacific holding onto the top two spots in the West Region, a handful of California schools are battling for the third and final playoff spot.

The Cougars' afternoon got off to a bad start with Valeriia Kashina being forced to retire from her singles match after the first set against Hillary Ramage, who Kashina had beaten 6-0, 6-4 in Azusa earlier in the season.

However, Azusa Pacific bounced back nicely with Lisa Schneider and Kara Hinton winning 6-2, 6-1 and 6-2, 6-3 respectively within a minute of each other to take a 2-1 lead overall. Hinton's win came at No. 4 singles, improving her record to 5-0 in singles when playing in the top four positions. For Schneider, it was her sixth match win in a row for a team-best 12 singles victories this season.

The Sea Lions won the last three singles matches to take a 4-2 lead going into doubles. Michelle Torres defeated Jackie Resler 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 at No. 6 singles. Then Nikkie Newell, who is ranked No. 5 in singles in the West Region defeated No. 4 Natalie Johnson 7-5, 7-5, coming from behind in both sets.

In doubles, the Cougars needed to sweep the Sea Lions again after doing so in Azusa earlier in the season. Azusa Pacific led by a break early in each doubles set, but Point Loma came back for an 8-3 victory at No. 3 doubles to clinch the victory.

Lilit Vardanyan and Schneider won 8-2 at No. 2 doubles for their fourth consecutive win as a doubles team. On Friday the Cougars go from San Diego to La Jolla to take on UC San Diego in a battle of the top two California women's tennis programs in NCAA Division II.