AZUSA, Calif. -- Despite a slow doubles start that sank the NAIA’s No. 5-ranked Azusa Pacific into a 2-1 hole in Monday’s non-conference matchup with Amherst (Mass.) College, the Cougars stormed back to win 5 of 6 singles matches for a 6-3 win that snapped a 5-match home losing streak.

Freshman Ilja Ikonnikov and junior Eric Isaacson teamed up for Azusa Pacific’s lone doubles win at No. 2, and each picked up quick straight-sets singles victories to pull the team scores even at 3-3.

Freshman Jack Zapala posted a 6-2, 6-4 win at No. 4 singles over Amherst’s Scott London, and sophomore Jonathan Sosnowski was a 6-1, 6-4 victor at No. 5 singles to clinch the match for the Cougars. By the time freshman Whitman Hough had split the first 2 sets of his No. 3 singles match, the team outcome had already been sealed. Hough won the abbreviated third-set super tiebreaker by a 10-3 margin to claim the win and account for the final 6-3 score.

With the win, Azusa Pacific evens its overall record at 7-7 while also snapping a 3-match overall losing streak.

SINGLES
1. Wes Waterman (AC) def. Danny Colten (APU); 6-2, 6-0
2. Ilja Ikonnikov (APU) def. Robby Sorrel (AC); 6-1, 6-0
3. Whitman Hough (APU) def. Tony Sheng (AC); 1-6, 6-4 (10-3)
4. Jack Zapala (APU) def. Scott London (AC); 6-2, 6-4
5. Jonathan Sosnowski (APU) def. Sam Sperling (AC); 6-1, 6-4
6. Eric Isaacson (APU) def. Peter Stein (AC); 6-1, 6-2

DOUBLES
1. Moritz Koenig/Zack Lerner (AC) def. Hough/Zapala (APU); 8-5
2. Ikonnikov/Isaacson (APU) def. Jon Thaler/Waterman (AC); 8-3
3. Alex Gumport/Sorrel (AC) def. Isaacson/Sosnowski (APU); 8-5