UC Riverside 4
Azusa Pacific 3

RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- Less than 24 hours after opening its season with a convincing win over Cal State L.A., Azusa Pacific nearly pulled off a huge upset.

The Cougars took the doubles’ point, but then dropped 4 of 6 singles’ matches to fall, 4-3, at NCAA Division I UC Riverside Thursday afternoon.

With the loss, Azusa Pacific drops to 1-1 on the season. UC Riverside improves to 2-1 with its second win in as many days.

On a blustery afternoon in Riverside, the Cougars quickly jumped out to a 1-0 lead with wins at Nos. 2 and 3 doubles. Peggy Bell and Lynn Quitoriano knocked off Casey Cross and Catrisha Cabanilla (8-6) at No. 2, and Heather Hiatt and Bay Daniels downed Colette Chau and Eri Yoshimoto (8-6) at No. 3.

Jennifer Dao defeated Michell Beyronneau at No. 1 singles after Beyronneau retired just prior to the tiebreaker. Mayu Sato then defeated Yoshimoto (6-4, 6-2) at No. 4 to bring the Cougars within 1 point of the win. UCR took wins at Nos. 2, 3 and 6 setting up the stage at No. 5 singles where Cabanilla held off Quitoriano (7-6, 7-6) to clinch the match.

Singles

1 – Jennifer Dao (APU) d. Michell Beyronneau, 3-6; 6-3; ret.

2 – Casey Cross d. Peggy Bell (APU), 7-5; 6-2

3 – H.R. Espiritu d. Bay Daniels (APU), 6-3; 6-2

4 – Mayu Sato (APU) d. Eri Yoshimoto, 6-4; 6-2

5 – Catrisha Cabanilla d. Lynn Quitoriano (APU), 7-6; 7-6

6 – Colette Chau d. Christiana Scolinos (APU), 6-1; 6-1

Doubles

1 – Beyronneau/Espiritu d. Dao/Sato (APU) 9-7

2 – Bell/Quitoriano (APU) d. Cross/Cabanilla 8-6

3 – Heather Hiatt/Daniels (APU) d. Chau/Yoshimoto 8-6