AZUSA, Calif. -- The NAIA's No. 3-ranked Azusa Pacific dropped its first Golden State Athletic Conference match of the season Thursday with a 6-3 loss to No. 2-ranked Fresno Pacific. A trio of freshmen, Leah Hoffee, Emily Ignas, and Natalie McNall, each registered points for the Cougars, along with senior Katy Jelsma.

Fresno Pacific took a 2-1 lead through doubles play, with an 8-5 win at No. 1 and 8-2 win at No. 2. Jelsma and McNall garnered an 8-1 decision at No. 3, the largest doubles margin of victory for Azusa Pacific since the season-opening match at The Master's College.

The Sunbirds proceeded to take the first 3 singles matches to clinch the dual match victory, highlighted by a pair of 6-0, 6-0 shutouts at No. 1 and No. 2. At No. 6, Hoffee tallied a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Sunbird Elizabeth McFeeters, improving her singles mark to 4-0 against GSAC opponents.

With the loss, Azusa Pacific is 5-2 overall, 5-1 in GSAC, while Fresno Pacific improves to 7-1 overall, 6-0 GSAC. The Sunbirds now have sole possession of first place in the conference standings. The Cougars are back in action on Saturday, March 7, for an 11 a.m. match at Hope International.

SINGLES
1. Katia Sabate (FPU) def. Sheryl Bon (APU); 6-0, 6-0
2. Ornella Gentile (FPU) def. Casey Wetzig (APU); 6-0, 6-0
3. Emily Ignas (APU) def. Maria Klokotzky (FPU); 5-7, ret.
4. Vanessa Heroux (FPU) def. Natalie McNall (APU); 6-0, 6-2
5. Yulia Blinovskaya (FPU) def. Marie Tanaka (APU); 6-2, 6-4
6. Leah Hoffee (APU) def. Elizabeth McFeeters (FPU); 7-5, 6-3

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

DOUBLES
1. Heroux/Sabate (FPU) def. Bon/Ignas (APU); 8-5
2. Gentile/Klokotzky (FPU) def. Tanaka/Wetzig (APU); 8-2
3. Katy Jelsma/McNall (APU) def. Blinovskaya/McFeeters (FPU); 8-1

Order of finish: 2, 3, 1