AZUSA, Calif. -- The NAIA’s No. 8-ranked Azusa Pacific finished the regular season with a convincing 9-0 win over Biola, ensuring the Cougars would not suffer their first losing season since 1996. Azusa Pacific swept all 3 doubles and all 6 singles matches for a perfect 9-0 result for the third time this season, and it was the Cougars’ second clean sweep against Biola this year.
Freshman Whitman Hough posted a win in his first collegiate appearance in the featured singles spot, out-lasting Biola’s Colin Snow in 3 sets, 6-4, 5-7 (10-4). In the 10-point third-set super tiebreaker, Hough tallied the first 6 points of the set and closed out the match with 4 straight points to claim the victory. Hough broke serve twice to open the match, taking a 5-0 lead before Snow rallied to within 5-4. In the second set, Snow rallied to win 4 straight games for a 7-5 win, forcing the third set.
Hough and freshman Jack Zapala teamed up at No. 2 doubles for an 8-4 win, rallying from a 2-1 deficit with back-to-back service breaks en route to the victory, and it was Zapala’s 6-3, 6-2 win at No. 4 singles that provided the fifth Azusa Pacific win to clinch the dual-match victory for the Cougars.
Junior Danny Colten edged Weston Leopold in 3 sets at No. 3 singles, and the remaining 3 singles matches all went in Azusa Pacific’s favor in straight sets. Freshman Ilja Ikonnikov remained perfect in 3 appearances at No. 2 singles, starting with consecutive service breaks in a 6-1, 6-2 victory. Junior Eric Isaacson tallied a 6-1, 6-1 victory at No. 6 singles, and sophomore Jonathan Sosnowski closed out the match with a 6-1, 6-0 victory at No. 5 singles.
With the win, Azusa Pacific wraps up the regular season with a 13-12 overall record, ensuring it will not finish below .500 on the season for the first time since 1996. The Cougars finished fourth in the GSAC with a 10-6 conference mark, while Biola’s season ends at 3-18 overall, 0-16 GSAC.
Azusa Pacific now awaits its at-large bid to the NAIA Tournament, which will be held May 12-16 in Mobile, Ala. The Cougars, ranked No. 8 in the most recent NAIA poll, will likely receive a first-round bye and open play on Wednesday, May 13.
SINGLES
1. Whitman Hough (APU) def. Colin Snow (BU); 6-4, 5-7 (10-4)
2. Ilja Ikonnikov (APU) def. Tyler Jung (BU); 6-1, 6-2
3. Danny Colten (APU) def. Weston Leopold (BU); 5-7, 6-2 (11-9)
4. Jack Zapala (APU) def. Daniel Westman (BU); 6-3, 6-2
5. Jonathan Sosnowski (APU) def. Brent Worthington (BU); 6-1, 6-0
6. Eric Isaacson (APU) def. Nicholas Lazar (BU); 6-1, 6-1
Order of finish: 2, 4*, 3, 1, 6, 5
* = clinching match
DOUBLES
1. Ikonnikov/Mathias Weber (APU) def. Leopold/Snow (BU); 8-2
2. Hough/Zapala (APU) def. Westman/Worthington (BU); 8-4
3. Janosch Apelt/Isaacson (APU) def. Ryan Adams/Jung (BU); 8-1
Order of finish: 1, 3, 2
