AZUSA, Calif. -- A doubles sweep sparked the NAIA's No. 5-ranked Azusa Pacific to its second straight victory as it heads into its toughest remaining stretch of the regular season, scoring an 8-1 win over Westmont Tuesday afternoon at the Munson and Bavougian Tennis Complex. Up next for the Golden State Athletic Conference's second-place Cougars are back-to-back visits to No. 12-ranked Vanguard (April 4) and No. 2-ranked Fresno Pacific (April 7).

Just as it did in its first meeting with Westmont 5 weeks ago, Azusa Pacific claimed all 3 doubles points in convincing fashion, then won 5 of the 6 singles matches. The Cougars were able to do so without the services of singles ace Sheryl Bon, who is recovering from an injury and missed singles play for the third consecutive match.

In the top doubles spot, sophomore Casey Wetzig and freshman Leah Hoffee rallied from a 4-3 deficit to win the final 5 games in an 8-4 victory, their first as a doubles tandem. Both of Azusa Pacific's other doubles teams also reached 4-3 scores midway through the doubles sets, with the Cougars leading both of those matches. Senior Katy Jelsma and freshman Natalie McNall ran their doubles mark to a perfect 7-0 with their 8-5 win at No. 2, and freshman Emily Ignas and junior Jessalyn Lau teamed up at No. 3 for their fourth straight doubles win, an 8-3 verdict.

Ignas registered a 6-3, 6-3 win at No. 3 singles, and Hoffee clinched the dual match for the Cougars with her 6-3, 6-2 win at No. 4. McNall played in the top singles spot in Bon's absence, and she picked up her first win in 3 tries at the top spot with a 6-1, 1-6, 6-4 victory over Ilissa Mathews.

Westmont's only point came from the No. 2 singles spot, just as it did in the first meeting between the teams, when Cassie Strange posted a 6-2, 6-1 win over Wetzig. Lau posted a perfect 6-0, 6-0 win at No. 6, and sophomore Marie Tanaka tallied her fourth straight singles win with a 6-1, 6-2 victory at No. 5 to close out the match.

With the win, Azusa Pacific improves to 11-6 overall, 10-3 GSAC, while Westmont drops to 5-11 overall and 3-10 in GSAC play. After road matches at Vanguard and Fresno Pacific, the Cougars round out the regular-season schedule with 3 consecutive home matches.

SINGLES
1. Natalie McNall (APU) def. Ilissa Mathews (WC); 6-1, 1-6, 6-4
2. Cassie Strange (WC) def. Casey Wetzig (APU); 6-2, 6-1
3. Emily Ignas (APU) def. Kristen Lee (WC); 6-3, 6-3
4. Leah Hoffee (APU) def. Christina Klein (WC); 6-3, 6-2
5. Marie Tanaka (APU) def. Sarah Louie (WC); 6-1, 6-2
6. Jessalyn Lau (APU) def. Sarah Chhum (WC); 6-0, 6-0

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

DOUBLES
1. Hoffee/Wetzig (APU) def. Mathews/Strange (WC); 8-4
2. Katy Jelsma/McNall (APU) def. Klein/Lee (WC); 8-5
3. Ignas/Lau (APU) def. Chhum/Sarah Kamida (WC); 8-3

Order of finish: 3, 1, 2