AZUSA, Calif. – After narrowly dropping a match for its first loss in eight matches, the Azusa Pacific men's tennis team got back on track with convincing 8-1 victory over Western New Mexico Thursday afternoon at the Munson & Bavougian Tennis Complex.

Match Results

For the second time in three matches, the Cougars swept doubles with Ben Eger and Pascal Engel pulling through in the closest of the three doubles matches 9-8(4). In the tiebreak, the Cougars led 3-0, before the Mustangs pulled off three points in a row to even the score. Eger held his serve in the first point after the changeover to take the lead for good.

"We decided that we wanted to make them make a play to beat us," Eger said. "We wanted to be the more solid team, and it worked for us. Then in the end we picked the right times to be more aggressive and go for it."

At No. 3 doubles, Alan Leahy and Shepherd Newcomb needed over an hour, but won comfortably, 8-3 for the pair's second win this season. Jan Meyer and Gary Yam picked up their 18th win as a pair in 20 matches all at No. 1 doubles, winning 8-4 for the Cougars' first point of the day.

"Alan and Shepherd have played better and better every match this year," head coach Mark Bohren said. "Even in their loss to Vanguard, I thought they were playing better, but today was the best match I have seen Alan play in doubles. If we can keep getting wins at No. 3 doubles, that's going to give us a chance against a lot of the good teams we are going to play this year."

Azusa Pacific clinched the match at 5-0 before dropping the only match of the day in a third set super tiebreaker. Tristan Da Lio didn't play doubles, but gave the Mustangs their only singles win, defeating Engel at No. 3 singles. He came back from a set down to force a third-set match tiebreaker, during which he saved four match points all with winners before converting the fourth match point of his won for the win 3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (16).

Jan Meyer bounced back from his first loss of the season with a comfortable 6-0, 6-2 win at No. 1 singles. The No. 7 player in the nation has now won three sets at love this season as the No. 1 singles player. Eger then clinched the match at No. 2 singles with a 6-3, 6-4 win. The senior has now won five of his eight career matches at that position. 

"There's obviously a big difference between playing No. 4 and No. 2 singles," Eger said. "At No. 2, you have to make the points, and it isn't enough to just put the ball in play. That's what Jan does so well at No. 1 go out and win the points. That's been the adjustment I have had to make, so it was nice to get that win."

Gary Yam improved to 3-1 this season with a 6-1, 6-3 win at No. 4 singles. Tomas Aranguiz won 6-4, 6-1 at No. 6 singles, while Alan Leahy battled out a 7-5, 6-0 win at No. 5 singles.

Azusa Pacific will return to action Friday afternoon against Holy Names in Azusa.