AZUSA, Calif. – Usually finales come much later in a season but with at least a month left in the season, the final home regular season match was another step in the journey.
Azusa Pacific closed out their home slate with a 7-2 win against Concordia on Wednesday afternoon.
The victory ups their record to 18-1. The squad is assured of at least eight more matches and potentially more depending on their playoff fate. It is well within reach the program could host an NCAA Division II West Regional playoff match in late April.
None the less the tandem of Cameron Backman, Oliver Frank, Alan Leahy, Antonio Pejic and Christian Schmid were celebrated just a touch more than normal.
DOUBLES: The No. 2 duo of Jakob Schnaitter and Pejic rebounded from their first loss of the season yesterday with a convincing 8-1 win. Azusa Pacific got their second team point as Schmid and Frank got a break midway through the contest and held serve to close out their 8-6 victory in the top position.
Jesse Haas and Ryan went up 6-3 but had to battle for their 8-6 win which was solidified with a hold of serve to clinched the contest.
SINGLES: The top three positions set the tone as the Cougars kept the momentum.
The first contest off the courts saw Schmid work baseline rallies in the opening set then head to the net in the second for a 6-2, 6-3 win in the No. 2 slot. Schnaitter, from his No. 3 spot, was effect from his baseline position in grabbing a 6-2, 6-2 decision to clinch the team match. At the top contest, Frank ran away in the first set before getting a late break to win the second to complete his 6-2, 7-5 victory.
Concordia was able to post a win at the No. 4 position with Daniel Reddmann's 2-6, 6-4, 10-5 win. They won their second team point in a similar fashion as Thomas Kyle notched a 6-2, 7-6 (3) victory at the No. 5 slot.
Just as that match was ending Backman put the finishing touches on the team contest with an impressive 6-2, 6-3 triumph. For the senior it was his 10th collegiate win during his 14 singles matches.
UP NEXT: This weekend the Cougars will board a plane bound for Florida where they will play three nationally ranked teams. The first is Monday against Embry-Riddle at 3:30 p.m. (EST).
