HONOLULU, Hawai'i - No. 17 Azusa Pacific faced an early test in No. 9 Hawai'i Pacific on Saturday, and it was the Sharks that would come out on top by a 6-1 score. With the loss, the Cougars are 2-2 to start the year.

While the Cougars' No. 1 doubles duo of Leyton Bohren and Marko Nikoliuk were able to open the afternoon with a 6-1 win, Hawai'i Pacific would take the doubles point with wins at No. 2 (6-4) and No. 3 (6-2).

The Sharks would take the early momentum into singles, where they won four of the six singles matchups in straight sets. On court No. 1, Leyton Bohren was forced to retire due to injury just three games into the second set, giving Jakub Beran a 7-6, 2-1 win. Marko Nikoliuk earned the lone point on the day for the Cougars at No. 3 against Jan Heine. Nikoliuk fought for a well deserved three-set win after dropping the first set 3-6. He bounced back with a 7-5 triumph in the second set, and then won the third in a tiebreak (10-5). Nikoliuk is now 2-0 against Division II opponents thus far.

Up Next: The Cougars will play their final match tomorrow, when they take on Hawai'i Hilo at 9:00 am HT (11:00 am PT).