AZUSA, Calif. -- The NAIA's No. 5-ranked Azusa Pacific took less than 2 hours to complete a 9-0 shutout over Biola Friday afternoon at the Munson & Bavougian Tennis Complex, blanking the Eagles for the 10th shutout victory of the season.
The singles matches were played before doubles, and the Cougars rolled to 6 straight-set victories by a combined score of 72-5. Three of the matches were won by a perfect 6-0, 6-0 margin, with freshman Emily Harris (No. 1), junior Leah Hoffee (No. 3), and freshman Molly Ruby (No. 5) posting perfect scores.
At No. 2 singles, junior Natalie McNall provided the match-clinching point when she completed a 6-0, 6-1 win over Biola's Kristen Williams, and a 6-1, 6-0 win at No. 4 from senior Casey Wetzig along with a 6-2, 6-1 result for sophomore Sarita Adhikary at No. 6 completed the singles sweep.
Two of the Cougars' 3 doubles representatives were new tandems, but all 3 posted 8-1 victories to give Azusa Pacific a doubles sweep and complete the shutout. At No. 1, Harris and freshman Kim Koetterheinrich won their first match together, while senior Sheryl Bon-Bakalov and Wetzig joined forces for the win at No. 2 in their first doubles appearance together since 2009.
The No. 3 doubles featured Adhikary with sophomore Danielle Hoyme, and the pair improved to 3-0 on the year with the victory.
With the win, Azusa Pacific improves to 17-3 on the season with 3 matches remaining, putting the Cougars within reach of posting their first 20-win campaign since doing so 3 straight seasons from 2004 through 2006. Azusa Pacific, which is now 11-3 in GSAC play, hosts NCAA Div. II Cal State L.A. on Monday, April 11, in a non-conference dual match before closing out the regular season with conference matches at Westmont (April 12) and home against Point Loma Nazarene (April 27).
