(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) – The NAIA’s No. 1-ranked Azusa Pacific won 2 of 3 doubles matches and 5 of 6 singles matches for a crucial 7-2 GSAC win at No. 18 Westmont.

The Cougars, who came within just a couple of points of sweeping the Warriors, got key doubles’ wins from Sam Fletcher and Adam Davidson at No. 1 and Cole Billings and Gordon Hong at No. 3.

“It was great to see the men win a big match short-handed,” said Azusa Pacific head coach Mark Bohren referring to the absence of the Cougars’ No. 2 singles player Boris Bakalov, who is still nursing an injury. “They really focused hard and got the job done.”

Fletcher teamed with Davidson to cruise past the Warriors top team of Tommas de Liefde and Jon Annett, 8-1. Fletcher then gutted out a come-from-behind nail-biter from de Liefde, 6-7 (7-5), 6-2, 6-3, at No. 1 singles to remain unbeaten this year. Davidson knocked off Bryn Mercado, 6-1, 6-1, at No. 2 singles.

Hong (No. 3), Thomas Jeslma (No. 4) and Justin Green (No. 6) picked up the Cougars’ final 3 singles’ points.

With the win, Azusa Pacific improves to 7-3 overall, 2-0 GSAC.

Match Results
Doubles
1 - Sam Fletcher/Adam Davidson (APU) d. Tommas de Liefde/Jon Annett, 8-1
2 - Bryn Mercado/David Gilbert d. Justin Green/Thomas Jelsma (APU), 8-6
3 - Cole Billings/Gordon Hong (APU) d. Tony Larson/John Hilp, 8-6

Singles
1 - Fletcher d. de Liefde, 6-7 (7-5), 6-2, 6-3
2 - Davidson d. Mercado, 6-1, 6-1
3 - Hong d. Gilbert, 6-1, 6-7 (8-6), 6-2
4 - Jelsma d. Larson, 6-1 6-1
5 - Annett d. Billings, 6-2, 6-7 (13-11), 6-1
6 - Green d. Hilp, 6-4, 6-4