AZUSA, Calif. - No. 33 Azusa Pacific improved its 2023 home record to 7-0 on Thursday, as the Cougars beat the No. 10 team in NCAA Division III, Emory, by a 4-1 score. The Cougars are now 9-3 overall, and are on a three-match winning streak.

Leyton Bohren and Marko Nikoliuk, who were just ranked as the No. 15 doubles duo in the country, started the match off with a quick 6-1 win at the No. 1 spot. Bohren and Nikoliuk are 10-2 together this season. In the No. 2 doubles match, the Cougars utilized a new partnership of Cole Rassner and Brody Bohren, and they rose to the challenge with a 7-5 win to clinch the doubles point and send Azusa Pacific into singles with the match lead.

Emory would level the match score at 1-1 with a straight-set win at No. 4, but Nikoliuk would give the lead right back to the Cougars, as he delivered a 6-2, 6-2 win in the No. 1 spot. Nikoliuk was ranked #24 in the latest ITA rankings that were released this week, as he has a 9-3 overall record, including a 2-0 mark at No. 1. 

The Cougars would go up 3-1 via the play of Elias Emilio Walter in the No. 3 match, where he dominated the first set for a 6-0 win, and then closed out the sweep with a 7-5 second set. Walter is ranked 73rd nationally, and he has claimed all eight of his victories in straight sets. 

Leyton Bohren, ranked 39th in the country, secured the match-clinching point at No. 2, winning 6-4, 6-3 for the Cougars.

Up Next: Tomorrow, the Cougars will face a test in No. 24 Hawai'i Pacific, as the Sharks will visit Azusa for a 2:30 pm match.