SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- Azusa Pacific, ranked No. 1 in the NAIA, began its tune-up for the NAIA Tournament with an easy 6-0 win over Westmont in the opening round of the NAIA Region II Tournament on Westmont’s home court in Santa Barbara.

With the win the Cougars improve to 27-1 and move to a perfect 3-0 over the Warriors this season. The Cougars will face No. 3-ranked and second-seed Vanguard in the tournament’s championship match tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. with the winner earning the region’s automatic bid to the NAIA Tournament May 17 in Mobile, Ala.

At stake for the Cougars in tomorrow’s match is not only their fifth straight win but a No. 1 seed at the NAIA Tournament. With their third win this season over Vanguard and 16th over a ranked team, the Cougars can clinch the NAIA’s top spot as well as their fifth straight NAIA Region II crown.

The Cougars made quick work of the Warriors, sweeping through doubles play and then winning 3 additional points in singles play, all without dropping a single set. In addition to the win, Azusa Pacific’s Sam Fletcher and Boris Bakalov were both named to the All-GSAC and NAIA All-Region II teams, and head coach Mark Bohren was named GSAC and NAIA Region II Coach of the Year for the fifth straight year.

Singles
1 – Sam Fletcher (APU) d. Thomas deLiefde 6-2, 6-4
2 – Boris Bakalov (APU) vs. Tony Larson DNF
3 – David Goodman (APU) vs. Bryn Mercado DNF
4 – Adam Davidson (APU) d. Chris Mark 6-0, 6-0
5 – Gordon Hong (APU) vs. John Hilp DNF
6 – Tom Jelsma (APU) d. J.B. Schiller 6-4, 6-1

Doubles
1 – Fletcher/Davidson d. deLiefde/Larson 9-8
2 – Bakalov/Jelsma d. Mark/Mercado 8-4
3 – Goodman/Hong d. Hilp/Schiller 8-3