AZUSA, Calif. – After waiting over two months for the rematch, the Cougars got what they wanted.
Leaving no doubt who was the better team, Azusa Pacific posted an 8-1 victory over UC San Diego on Saturday in their final regular season match of the season.
Match Results
It was the last home match for seniors Danae Ingwaldson and Bethany Duval.
Azusa Pacific was able to avenge an early season setback against the Tritons. In the third match of the year for both teams, UC San Diego (12-11) posted a 6-3 win in La Jolla, Calif.
Doubles did not start promisingly for the Cougars as the top team of Natalie Johnson and Ingwaldson fell to Kyra Scott and Britta Mosser 8-2 at the top spot.
The Cougars rallied at the No. 2 and No. 3 positions in nip-and-tuck affairs. Jackie Resler and Valeriia Kashina fought back from an early deficit to post an 8-6 win at the second spot. Similarly at the No. 3 match-up Duval and Lindsey Yeom rallied and used late break of serve to record a hard fought 9-7 win.
In her final home match, Ingwaldson walked off the court with a convincing 6-2, 6-0 victory at the No. 4 slot. The senior was never threaten as she gave her team a 3-1 lead in the team match. Azusa Pacific (13-9) increased their team lead as Jackie Resler walked off with a 6-1, 6-2 victory on court three.
The Cougars clinched the match in a rather an anti-climactic way. Natalie Johnson battled back from an early hole in the first set to win the first set 7-5. After Johnson won the first game of the second set, Jasmine Hosseini retired from the match to give Johnson the win at No. 1 singles which clinched the fifth team point for Azusa Pacific.
For good measure the home team continued to compile victories as players stepped off the court. Kashina rallied for a first set loss to win 2-6, 6-4, 11-9 at the No. 2 spot.
The Cougars completed their singles sweep with a pair of three set wins. Sierra Troxel recorded a 5-7, 6-0, 6-2 win on court five while Lindsey Yeo notched a 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 triumph at the No. 6 match-up.
Azusa Pacific will travel to Surprise, Ariz. next week for the PacWest tournament which begins on Thursday.
