Northwood (Fla.) 1
MOBILE, Ala. -- There’s going to be a new champion in NAIA women’s tennis this year, and in a shocking development, it still could be Azusa Pacific.
The Cougars took 2-of-3 doubles’ matches to lift their way to a 5-1 upset of No. 2 seed and defending champion Northwood (Fla.) in today’s quarterfinal action at the 23rd Annual Women’s Tennis Championship.
The win moves the Cougars to 20-7, their first-ever 20-win season, and moves them into their first semifinal in program history just 24 hours after they made their first-ever quarterfinal appearance. Northwood concludes its season at 16-5.
Lynn Quitoriano and Lindsey West got things rolling with a quick 8-2 win at No. 3 doubles, and then Mayu Sato and Jennifer Dao gave the Cougars a 2-1 lead heading into singles when they picked up a win at No. 2 doubles.
In singles play, Quitoriano and West stepped up for the second straight match with each gaining straight set wins at No. 5 and 6. Quitoriano knocked off Julie Harrouf (6-2, 6-4) at No. 5 and West defeated Trudi Smith (6-3, 6-2) at No. 6. Peggy also picked up her first win of the tournament when she defeated Jania Topinkova (6-2, 6-2) at No. 3, and the Cougars had the necessary 5 points to clinch the match, which proved to be big as the Cougars were trailing the other 3 matches.
Azusa Pacific advances to tomorrow’s semifinal where the Cougars battle unseeded Southern Nazarene (Okla.), which stunned No. 3-seed Flagler (Fla.), 5-4, today. GSAC-member Vanguard plays No. 1-seed Auburn-Montgomery (Ala.) in the other semifinal. The semifinals are set to get underway at 9 a.m. (CST) with the winners advancing to Friday’s championship.
Singles
1 - Ania Kazakevich (NWU) vs. Jennifer Dao (APU), 6-2; 4-2 DNF
2 - Mayu Sato (APU) vs. Melanie Roy (NWU), 5-7; 1-1 DNF
3 - Peggy Bell (APU) def. Jania Topinkova (NWU), 6-2; 6-2
4 - Christina Earnest (APU) vs. Annie Deschamps (NWU), 5-7; 1-1 DNF
5 - Lynn Quitoriano (APU) def. Julie Harrouf (NWU), 6-2; 6-4
6 - Lindsey West (APU) def. Trudi Smith (NWU), 6-3; 6-2
Doubles
1 - Kazakavich/Topinkova (NWU) def. Bell/Earnest (APU), 8-6
2 - Sato/Dao (APU) def. Roy/Deschamps (NWU), 9-7
3 - Quitoriano/West (APU) def. Harrouf/Smith (NWU), 8-2
