ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla.-- For the first time in program history, the Azusa Pacific women's tennis team advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament after posting a 4-1 victory over No. 8-seed Central Oklahoma Wednesday morning at the final championship site in Altamonte Springs, Florida. The Cougars jumped out to an early lead and claimed the doubles point as well as the first two singles matches from April Wong and Kara Hinton before Mikayla Rinker won by withdraw on court six to clinch the round of sixteen victory.

"Making the quarterfinals and continuing to make history is great for Azusa Pacific women's tennis," head coach Mark Bohren said. "Beating a team that was ranked in the top ten makes it feel all the better."

With the win, the Cougars improve to 16-8 on the season and will face the tournamen's overall No. 1-seed Barry University Thursday morning at 9:00 a.m. (EDT). The two teams met earlier this season, when the Buccaneers visited California and posted a 4-0 victory over the host Cougars.

Azusa Pacific took the early advantage in doubles with a 6-4 victory at the No. 2 position from Anna Savchenko and April Wong. At No. 1 doubles, Isabella Dunlap and Paola Landin came from behind for a Central Oklahoma win over Kara Hinton and Jacky Wagner, 6-3. With the doubles point resting on the outcome of court three, Petra Ivankovic and Audrey Stewart posted a 6-4 win over Sarah Van Eeckhoudt and Kirtana Bhat to give the Cougars a 1-0 edge in the match.

April Wong won the first Cougars singles match on court five over No. 70-ranked Nikki Boyar, 7-5, 6-1, giving Wong five consecutive singles victories at the No. 5 spot in the lineup. The next singles win for the Cougars came from senior Kara Hinton at No. 3, with a 6-2, 6-3 win over No. 54-ranked Paola Landin.

That put the Cougars just one win away from advancing into the quarterfinals with four matches still in play. Central Oklahoma narrowed the gap to 3-1 with a No.5 singles win, as Isabella Dunlap edged Anna Savchenko in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4.

Azusa Pacific was tied or leading in the remaining three singles matches, when Mikayla Rinker's opponent at No. 6 singles retired from the match with Rinker leading, 6-1, 4-6, 5-3, providing the match-clinching win for the Cougars, who advance to the NCAA Quarterfinals for the first time in program history.