Cougar Athletics
30 NAIA National Championships
95 GSAC Championships
...and counting

COSTA MESA, Calif. – Azusa Pacific, ranked No. 17 in the NAIA, made a stellar run at the 2002 NAIA Region II Tournament championship but in the end, the Cougars’ run fell short to GSAC champion Point Loma Nazarene, 5-3, today in Costa Mesa.

The Cougars should still earn an at-large berth into the upcoming NAIA National Tournament May 13-17 in Peachtree City, Ga.

Brianne Hahn/Jen Hansen and Mayu Sato/Minthy Nguyen got the Cougars going with key wins in doubles to give the Cougars a 2-1 lead heading into the singles’ competition.

However, Hahn was the lone Cougar to pick up a point for Azusa Pacific, winning at No. 5. Point Loma won Nos. 1, 3, 4 and 6 singles. Hansen’s match at No. 2 was tied at 4-4 when the match was called after the Crusaders had picked up the necessary 5 points.

Point Loma earns the region’s automatic bid to the National Tournament, while the Cougars will now have to sit and wait until Monday when the 24-team field is released. Eleven at-large berths are available.