AZUSA, Calif. – Taking a break from the NCAA Division II portion of their schedule, the sixth-ranked Azusa Pacific men's tennis continued their strong start with a pair of wins on Saturday.
The Cougars started the day with a convincing win against former NAIA foe Hope International then topped off the weekend by knocking off the NCAA's No. 12 Division III team – Pomona-Pitzer.
Azusa Pacific ends the month with an 8-0 record.
Azusa Pacific 8, Hope International 1
With nearly every player in the line-up playing in new positions or playing for the first time this season, the Cougars continued their dominance.
DOUBLES – In the top doubles match, Ryan Nuno and Jesse Haas won their debut at the No. 1 slot with an 8-4 victory. Dillon Barnard and Roberto Luconi were off the courts first after their 8-3 win in the third spot.
Marnix Pluim and Alan Leahy, playing their first doubles action of the season, posted a hard fought 8-7 (7-4) win to sweep the doubles matches.
SINGLES – A host a players were put in new positions as Azusa Pacific won five of the six contests. The first match off the courts was also the first collegiate singles win for Barnard as he won 6-0, 6-3. In the fifth slot, Pluim quickly followed with his second singles win of the season (6-0, 6-0).
In a matter of minutes the wins continued to roll of the courts in the Cougars favor. Jesse Haas won his first ever match at the No. 4 position and did so by dropping just one game (6-0, 6-1). Tony Pejic won his initial contest at the top of line-up by a 6-3, 6-0 count.
Jakob Schnaitter was pressed in his match at the No. 2 position. After falling in the first set 7-5, he showed why he is ranked in the nation's top 30 with a 6-0 victory in the second frame. The freshman eventually won the match by winning the super tiebreaker 10-6.
The only match the Royals won was a 1-6, 7-5, 10-8 decision that went in Antoinie Voisin's favor at the No. 3 position.
Azusa Pacific 7, Pomona-Pitzer 2
Keeping with the Saturday theme a different then the norm line-up, the Cougars showed how deep they are with a quality win.
DOUBLES – Oliver Frank and Jakob Schaitter teamed-up for the first time this season and walked away with an 8-2 win at the top spot. Christian Schmid and Ronald Kang put their talents together for the first time as well at the No. 3 position. The duo recorded a solid 8-5 win. Pomona-Pitzer rallied late to win the second match in a tiebreaker.
SINGLES – Despite hold the team lead after doubles, the Cougars had to work hard for the team win as four of the six matches went to a third set. Azusa Pacific won every match that went the distance.
Schaitter's match at the No. 1 position went all the way before the newcomer posted a 4-6, 6-0, 6-4 win. Kang, playing in the No. 2 slot, also went three sets (1-6, 6-1, 6-2) before grabbing the victory. Schmid's match at the No. 3 position was a breeze compared to the other Azusa Pacific wins. The senior dropped just four games (6-0, 6-4) in posting his triumph.
Alan Leahy pulled out a 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-2 win at the fifth position while Jesse Haas completed his perfect day with a 6-4, 6-7 (2), 6-4 victory in the No. 6 slot.
Pomona-Pitzer won at the No. 4 match as Jacob Schoenherr won in the fourth spot.
