AZUSA, Calif. -- The NAIA's No. 8-ranked Azusa Pacific took one more step towards a winning record after posting an 8-1 victory over No. 25-ranked Hope International Saturday afternoon at the Munson and Bavougian Tennis Complex. Hope International conceded 3 points by default and the Cougars took care of the rest, winning 5 of the 6 remaining matches.

Junior Mathias Weber had the performance of the day for Azusa Pacific at No. 1 singles in just his second-ever match at the top position in his 3-year career. He defeated Hope International's Rajko Mladenovic, ranked No. 20 in the NAIA’s individual singles rankings, in a 7-5, 6-3 decision, coming back from a 5-2 deficit in the first set. Weber has now won 5 consecutive singles matches to even his season mark at 9-9, collecting back-to-back straight-set victories over nationally-ranked players.

Weber partnered with freshman Janosch Apelt for doubles play, earning an 8-1 victory at No. 1. Junior Matthijs Bolsius and freshman Ilja Ikonnikov followed with a 8-3 triumph at No. 2, clinching the dual match for the Cougars.

Apelt was the only Cougar to capture a set sweep, taking a 6-0 opening-set shutout at No. 2 singles before Hope International's Dominic Tinodi retired due to injury. Junior Ronald Chow commanded his match at No. 4 singles with a 6-2, 6-2 victory.

Hope International's Johan Weich prevailed over sophomore Daniel Moore for the Royals' only point, a 3-6, 6-3, (10-6) super tiebreaker victory at No. 3 singles.

With the win, Azusa Pacific improves to 11-12 overall, 8-6 in GSAC, while Hope International drops to 7-14 overall, 3-11 GSAC.

The Cougars will host No. 5 Concordia on Tuesday, April 21, at 2 p.m., and a victory would clinch a winning GSAC record for the 13th straight season for the Cougars. It would also give Azusa Pacific an opportunity to avoid its first losing regular-season record since 1996 with a win over Biola in the April 28 conference finale.

SINGLES
1. Mathias Weber (APU) def. Rajko Mladenovic (HIU); 7-5, 6-3
2. Janosch Apelt (APU) def. Dominic Tinodi (HIU); 6-0, (ret.)
3. Johan Weich (HIU) def. Daniel Moore (APU); 3-6, 6-3, (10-6)
4. Ronald Chow (APU) def. Sebastian Bunescu (HIU): 6-2, 6-2
5. APU wins by default
6. APU wins by default

Order of finish: 2, 4, 1, 3

DOUBLES
1. Apelt/Weber (APU) def. Tinodi/Weich (HIU); 8-1
2. Matthjis Bolsius/Ilja Ikonnikov (APU) def. Bunescu/Mladenovic (HIU); 8-3
3. APU wins by default

Order of finish: 1, 2*
(*=clinching match)