AZUSA, Calif. -- The NAIA’s No. 5-ranked Azusa Pacific dropped a 5-4 decision to the NCAA Div. III’s No. 1-ranked Emory (Ga.) Thursday afternoon at the Munson and Bavougian Tennis Complex. The Cougars were just 1-for-5 in tiebreakers and failed to capitalize on sizable advantages in 3 of the 5 contests they lost.

Junior Ronald Chow tallied the first pair of Azusa Pacific's dual match points, partnering with sophomore Daniel Moore for an 8-5 win at No. 1 doubles, then posting a 6-3, 6-3 victory at No. 4 singles.

"I feel like I'm playing my best tennis right now after struggling earlier in the season," Chow said.

Azusa Pacific also scored points at the top 2 singles positions, led by junior Matthijs Bolsius' 6-1, 6-7, 6-3 win over the NCAA Div. III's No. 6-ranked singles player Michael Goodwin at No. 1, followed by freshman Janosch Apelt's grinding 7-5, 7-6 win over Goodwin's younger brother Chris at No. 2.

Despite the strong performances at the top of the lineup, the Cougars missed ample opportunities to secure points for the dual match win, particularly in doubles play.

After falling behind 7-3 at No. 2 doubles, freshman Ilja Ikonnikov and Bolsius reeled off 5 consecutive games for an 8-7 lead before Emory's No. 2 tandem won a game to even the match at 8-8. The tandem took a 5-3 lead in the tiebreaker off 2 aces and 3 Emory errors, but dropped 5 of the next 6 points by committing 4 errors in an 8-6 loss.

At No. 3 doubles, freshman Jack Zapala and Apelt had 7 match-point opportunities while leading 7-6 in the set, but the Eagles answered to force deuce all 7 times. In the eventual tiebreaker, Emory scored a 7-5 decision to claim the doubles point.

At No. 6 singles, Ikonnikov dropped a 7-6, 6-4 decision to Emory's Chris Redmond, relinquishing a 5-2 opening-set lead and a 40-love advantage in the 6-5 game later in the first set.

"I believe we have the talent to compete with anyone," Cougar head coach Mark Bohren said. "It's just a matter of putting together the pieces at key moments."

With the loss, Azusa Pacific drops to 6-5 overall, while Emory advances to 7-1. The Cougars continue a competitive non-conference slate, hosting the NCAA Div. III's defending champion and current No. 2-ranked Washington (Mo.) on Friday, Mar. 13, at 2 p.m.

SINGLES
1. Matthijs Bolsius (APU) def. Michael Goodwin (EU); 6-1, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3
2. Janosch Apelt (APU) def. Chris Goodwin (EU); 7-5, 7-6 (7-1)
3. Mark Boren (EU) def. Daniel Moore (APU); 6-4, 6-1
4. Ronald Chow (APU) def. Colin Egan (EU); 6-3, 6-3
5. Oliver Lopp (EU) def. Danny Colten (APU); 6-4, 1-6, 6-1
6. Chris Redmond (EU) def. Ilja Ikonnikov (APU); 7-6 (7-2), 6-4

Order of finish: 3, 4, 1, 6, 2, 5*
(*=clinching match)

DOUBLES
1. Chow/Moore (APU) def. C. Goodwin/M. Goodwin (EU); 8-5
2. David Caplan/Boren (EU) def. Bolsius/Ikonnikov (APU); 9-8 (8-6)
3. Michael Kaufman/Lopp (EU) def. Jack Zapala/Apelt (APU); 9-8 (7-5)

Order of finish: 1, 2, 3