COSTA MESA, Calif. -- Freshmen Dutchmen Marnix Pluim and Olger van Gent earned the Azusa Pacific men's tennis team's first two singles victories after helping the Cougars sweep doubles to clinch what went on to be a 7-2 victory over Concordia on Friday afternoon at the Costa Mesa Tennis Center.
Match Results
Pluim and Van Gent each won their respective doubles matches as Azusa Pacific maintained its perfect record this season in doubles, improving to 9-0. Van Gent then won his match at No. 4 singles 6-2, 6-3 less than five minutes before Pluim won his match at No. 6 singles, 6-0, 7-5.
"I think both Marnix and Olger showed a lot of maturity for their first time playing against a regional opponent," head coach Mark Bohren said "They didn't letting the small things get to them. They both played really well in doubles too, executing really well. They're both older than their age in terms of their maturity on and off the court."
With the win, the Cougars improve to 3-0 this season, beating the No. 7 team in the West Region ITA rankings. Azusa Pacific, which is ranked No. 2 in the region, next plays against the West Region's No. 4 UC San Diego on Saturday at the Cougar Tennis Complex at 1:30 p.m.
Junior Christian Schmid won his first collegiate match at No. 1 singles, winning in three sets 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 to become the third different Cougar to win at the top singles position this year.
Last week's Pacific West Conference Player of the Week Alan Leahy improved to 3-0 this year in singles with a 6-4, 6-1 victory at No. 3 singles. Overall, Azusa Pacific is 15-3 in singles play this year.
Pluim paired with Pascal Engel at No. 2 doubles as the pair earned the Cougars' first point of the match, wining 8-4. Schmid and Jan Meyer then gave Azusa Pacific a 2-0 edge with a win at No. 1 doubles, 8-6.
"We've played well as a team in doubles this season," Pluim said after his third consecutive doubles win. "Then there is a lot of stuff in doubles that helps me with singles, so getting those wins in doubles gives me the confidence in singles."
Van Gent and Shepherd Newcomb completed the doubles sweep at No. 3 doubles with an 8-6 triumph. As a doubles pair, Van Gent and Newcomb haven't been broken once in their three victories this season.
