AZUSA, Calif. -- Azusa Pacific posted its eighth shutout win of the 2011 campaign, and the NAIA's No. 5-ranked Cougars did it in unprecedented fashion, winning every single game of the 9-0 victory Friday afternoon at the Munson & Bavougian Tennis Complex.
Only 1 of Azusa Pacific's 3 doubles teams had played a match together this season, but all 3 won by perfect 8-0 margins. Sophomore Sarita Adhikary and freshman Kim Koetterheinrich entered the afternoon with a win in their only other doubles match together, an 8-2 win over Biola's No. 3 doubles tandem just over 2 weeks ago. The pair posted an 8-0 win at the No. 2 position, while junior Leah Hoffee joined forces with freshman Emily Harris at No. 1 doubles for another 8-0 victory.
At No. 3, sophomore Danielle Hoyme and freshman Molly Ruby completed the doubles sweep with a third 8-0 victory.
The Cougars went unchallenged again in singles, quickly clinching the match when all 6 singles matches were decided by straight-set scores of 6-0, 6-0. Koetterheinrich picked up the win at the top position in the singles lineup, and Harris (No. 2) and Hoffee (No. 3) each extended individual singles winning streaks to 7 consecutive matches. Harris and Hoffee are a combined 21-3 in singles play this year.
Ruby improved her individual singles record to 10-2 with a win in the No. 4 spot, her second appearance there this year, and Adhikary remained perfect in 6 singles matches this season with her win at the No. 5 position. Rounding out the win was a No. 6 singles victory from Hoyme, who improved to 5-0 in career singles play.
With the win, Azusa Pacific has now won 9 of its past 10 matches to improve to 14-2 overall and 8-2 in GSAC play. The shutout was the second in a row for the Cougars, who also swept past The Master's, 9-0, earlier this week. Hope International remains winless on the year, falling to 0-13 overall and 0-9 GSAC.
The Cougars are home for 6 of their final 7 matches, including their next matchup, which is a Monday, March 28 showdown with the NAIA's top-ranked Fresno Pacific.
