AZUSA, Calif. – The 16th win of the season was just slightly sweeter than a regular sweet 16 might be.
The Cougars continued their undefeated start to the season with a sweeping 9-0 victory against Biola on Friday afternoon.
Not only do the 14th ranked Cougars remain perfect, they swept the season series from their nearby rivals and add to the athletics departments lead in the year-long Cornerstone Cup competition. With the 35 points left to be decided among the spring sports, Azusa Pacific leads 60-45. The first athletic department to 75 clinching the Cornerstone Cup.
On a slightly overcast spring day, the Cougars were challenged in just two of nine matches.
DOUBLES: Christian Schmid and Oliver Frank continue to solidify their No.1 national ranking. The tandem were never challenged as they posted an 8-1 win. A somewhat similar scenario unfolded at the third position. Jesse Haas and Ryan Nuno jumped out to the early edge and upped their play in the later stages for an 8-3 victory.
At the No. 2 position, a tense affair ensued. Jakob Schnaitter and Antonio Pejic couldn't get any separation as they traded games with Quetin Lau and Philip Westwood. The Cougar duo scored five of the last six points in the tiebreaker to seal an 8-7 (3) win.
SINGLES: Azusa Pacific fell in just one set as they completed the team victory in convincing fashion.
Ronald Kang posted the most impressive win (6-1, 6-0) at the No. 4 slot. In the third position Schnaitter nearly matched that effort as he notched a 6-1, 6-1 victory.
In the top two slots Frank recorded a 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 1 with Schmid tallying a 6-2, 6-3 triumph in the second slot. Both of them are 11-0 this season.
Dillon Barnard, playing in his third singles match of the season, remained undefeated with a solid 6-3, 6-0 win at the No. 6 spot. The Cougars sweep was completed when Alan Leahy responded with a first set loss to post a 4-6, 6-4, 10-8 victory in the fifth slot.
NEXT: Azusa Pacific hosts tradition NCAA Division III powerhouse Middlebury on Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
