IRVINE, Calif. -- The NAIA’s No. 3-ranked Azusa Pacific cruised through the halfway point of its Golden State Athletic Conference schedule with a 7-2 road win over Concordia Saturday afternoon.
Senior Jennifer Dao’s 3-set win at No. 1 singles was the closest singles match of the afternoon, with 4 others posting straight-sets singles victories to give the Cougars 5 of the 6 points in singles. In doubles, Azusa Pacific’s No. 1 team of senior Peggy Bell and junior Bay Daniels earned a 9-7 win, and Dao and junior Kim Tran picked up an 8-3 win at No. 2 doubles to help the Cougars win 2 of the 3 doubles points.
Daniels, Tran and Bell each won in straight sets in singles, at the 2, 3 and 4 spots, respectively, and freshman Jessalyn Lau was the Cougars’ final point-winner after posting a 6-0, 6-4 win at No. 6 singles.
With the win, Azusa Pacific improves to 6-1 overall and 4-1 in GSAC play, while Concordia drops to 5-5 overall, 2-2 in GSAC. The Cougars take a 2-week break from conference play, but are back in action on Monday, March 5, when they visit Cal Poly Pomona in a 2 p.m. non-conference match.
Singles:
#1 – Jennifer Dao (APU) def. Michelle Esquivel (CUI), 5-7, 6-4, 6-4
#2 – Bay Daniels (APU) def. Jessica Rice (CUI), 6-0, 6-1
#3 – Kim Tran (APU) def. Amanda Varela (CUI), 6-4, 6-0
#4 – Peggy Bell (APU) def. Meghan Ehlers (CUI), 6-1, 6-1
#5 – Emily Paulson (CUI) def. Katy Jelsma (APU), 6-4, 3-0 (ret.)
#6 – Jessalyn Lau (APU) def. Julie Haley (CUI), 6-0, 6-4
Doubles:
#1 – Daniels/Bell (APU) def. Moses/Varela (CUI), 9-7
#2 – Tran/Dao (APU) def. Esquivel/Paulson (CUI), 8-3
#3 – Rice/Haley (CUI) def. Jelsma/Cloninger (APU), 8-6
