AZUSA, Calif. - Despite having withdrawals from two matches, Azusa Pacific fought back to win all seven remaining matches for a 7-2 victory Saturday afternoon over Point Loma, which is ranked No. 22 in the nation
Match Results
The Cougars (9-7) won the first meeting between the two programs at Point Loma 5-4, getting crucial victories from Natalie Johnson in both singles and doubles. However, with Johnson unable to play due to sickness, Azusa Pacific started the match in an 0-2 hole without its No. 1 in singles and doubles.
In San Diego, the Sea Lions (6-11) won both No. 2 and No. 3 doubles, but with a different doubles lineup, the Cougars got both this time around. Lindsey Yeom and Jackie Resler improved to 8-3 as a pair at No. 2 doubles with an 8-4 win. Meanwhile at No. 3 doubles, seniors Danae Ingwaldson and Bethany Duval snapped a four-match losing streak with an 8-4 win of their own.
Sophomore Valeriia Kashina, who had to sit out doubles with her partner sick, got the first win in singles at the No. 2 position. Her 7-6, 7-6 victory in San Diego clinched the victory in the first meeting, but against Madeline Cunningham this time, Kashina cruised to a 6-4, 6-1 win.
Yeom made the score 4-2 with a 6-3, 6-2 win at No. 5 singles and Resler later finished the match for the Cougars with a 6-3, 6-3 win at No. 3 singles. Resler improved to 11-3 on the season with the win.
Ingwaldson battled out a first set that lasted longer than the No. 2 singles match, winning it 7-5. The senior held onto the momentum from winning the last two games of the first set by and won the second 6-3. Sophomore Sierra Troxel finished the day for the Cougars with the seventh win. After winning the first nine games of the match, she held on for a 6-0, 6-4 win at No. 6 singles.
This was the Cougars' fifth match in six days and the team will be right back on court with three more matches next week starting with a 1:30p.m. match against Middlebury on Wednesday in Azusa. Then on Wednesday, the Cougars will play Cal State LA, which is just one spot behind Azusa Pacific in the regional rankings at No. 6.
