AZUSA, Calif. -- The NAIA's No. 4-ranked Azusa Pacific earned an 8-1 victory over Hope International Saturday afternoon at the Munson and Bavougian Tennis Complex. The Cougars won 5 of the 6 matches contested after collecting 3 additional points by default.
Senior Katy Jelsma and freshman Natalie McNall became the first Cougar tandem to reach 10 doubles victories on the season, controlling an 8-1 match at No. 2 doubles. The tandem has won 10 of 11 matches together, with a pair of 5-0 marks at No. 2 and No. 3.
Sophomore Marie Tanaka and freshman Leah Hoffee clinched the dual match victory for Azusa Pacific, holding off a late Royal push to take an 8-6 decision at No. 1 singles. The Cougars held a 7-4 lead in the set, but Hope International's top tandem of Bettina Radke and Ann-Charlott Jurlander scored 8 of the next 9 points to pull to within 7-6. Hoffee and Tanaka responded with a 4-point sweep in the final game.
Hoffee and Tanaka rolled to decisive victories in their singles matches. Hoffee tallied a 6-1, 6-1 win at No. 3 singles, while Tanaka registered a 6-1, 6-0 victory at No. 4. At No. 2 singles, McNall rallied from a 4-1 deficit in the first set, winning the last 5 games to complete a 6-4 comeback before notching a 6-3 score in the second set.
Bettina Radke produced Hope International's lone point of the match at No. 1 singles, fashioning a 6-1, 6-4 win over freshman Emily Ignas, who was seeing action at the top singles spot for the first time in her collegiate career. Radke also prevented a Cougar shutout in the teams' March 7 meeting, winning in 3 sets over sophomore Sheryl Bon.
With the win, Azusa Pacific advances to 13-7 overall, 12-4 in GSAC, while Hope International drops to 7-13 overall, 3-10 in GSAC. Azusa Pacific takes on No. 7-ranked Concordia at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21, hosting a battle for a share of second place in the GSAC standings.
SINGLES
1. Bettina Radke (HIU) def. Emily Ignas (APU); 6-1, 6-4
2. Natalie McNall (APU) def. Ann-Charlott Jurlander (HIU); 6-4, 6-3
3. Leah Hoffee (APU) def. Minette Steyn (HIU); 6-1, 6-1
4. Marie Tanaka (APU) def. Brittney Munoz (HIU); 6-1, 6-0
5. APU wins by default
6. APU wins by default
Order of finish: 4, 3, 2, 1
DOUBLES
1. Hoffee/Tanaka (APU) def. Jurlander/Radke (HIU); 8-6
2. Katy Jelsma/McNall (APU) def. Munoz/Steyn (HIU); 8-1
3. APU wins by default
Order of finish: 2, 1*
(*=clinching match)
