AZUSA, Calif. -- Azusa Pacific got strong performances across the board and Cole Billings punctuated the afternoon of tennis by pulling out a win in a third set tie break as the Cougars routed Point Loma Nazarene, 8-1.

The match featured 2 of the top teams in the GSAC but the suspense was over quickly when the Cougars swept the doubles matches. “We got off to a great start today and it helped us build momentum,” said head coach Mark Bohren. “I’m happy with the way we are playing.”

The NAIA’s top-ranked Cougars got a dominant win at No. 6 singles from Art Fatkiev, who trounced Stephen Sheldon, 6-0, 6-1. The exciting match of the day was at No. 5 singles where Billings won the first set 6-2 before Sean Sand stormed back to win the second, 6-0. The 2 then went back and forth in the third set before Billings flipped a switch in the tie break and won, 7-3 to close it out.

Singles

1 - Boris Bakalov (APU) d. Philipp Wulf (PLNU), 6-1, 6-3

2 – Patrick Kur (APU) d. Christian Gerloff (PLNU), 6-1, 6-0

3 – David Goodman (APU) d. Craig Johnson (PLNU), 6-1, 6-0

4 – Jonathan Bowman (PLNU) d. Tom Jelsma (APU), 6-1, 6-4

5 – Cole Billings (APU) d. Sean Sand (PLNU), 6-2, 0-6, 7-6 (7-3)

6 – Art Fatkiev (APU) d. Stephen Sheldon (PLNU), 6-0, 6-1

Doubles

1 – Bakalov/Jelsma (APU) d. Gerloff/Bowman (PLNU), 9-7

2 – Kur/Goodman (APU) d. Johnson/Wulf (PLNU), 8-2

3 – Billings/Fatkiev (APU) d. Sand/Sheldon (PLNU), 8-4