AZUSA, Calif. -- With a line-up fortified by several freshmen and a key transfer in the fold, this season’s edition of the Azusa Pacific women’s tennis team figures to give its opponents all they can handle.
That combination proved effective in the Cougars’ (1-0) season opener as they downed Claremont, 7-2, on a pleasant Friday afternoon in Azusa.
Sophomore Kim Tran and Peggy Bell teamed at the No. 2 doubles spot and defeated Jessica Nagasako and Lisa Steckmest, 8-3. Tran, a UC Riverside transfer, then turned around and defeated Allison Laygo, 6-2, 6-4, at No. 4 singles to turn in an undefeated performance in her debut.
“Kim was a big spark for us today,” said head coach Mark Bohren. “She got off the court quickly. It was a good win for us today.”
Bohren put together freshmen Katy Jelsma and Raquel Gottfried at No. 3 doubles and the pair pulled out a close match, 9-7, over Laygo and Jessica Fox.
“It can be hard for the freshmen to shake off nerves and play well in that first match but they were able to do it today. We started slow but then picked it up after the first set of tennis,” added Bohren.
The Cougars’ top returning player, 2-time All American Jennifer Dao, began her season in notable form dispatching Yassie Entekhabi in straight sets, 7-6, 6-2.
Singles
1 – Jennifer Dao (APU) d. Yassie Entekhabi (C.), 7-6, 6-2
2 – Peggy Bell (APU) d. Jeannie Liang (C.), 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
3 – Bay Daniels (APU) d. Jessica Nagasako (C.), 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
4 – Kim Tran (APU) d. Allison Laygo (C.), 6-2, 6-4
5 – Raquel Gottfried (APU) d. Kristen Handley (C.), 6-3, 3-6, 7-5
6 – Lisa Steckmest (C.) d. Katy Jelsma (APU), 7-5, 6-0
Doubles
1 – Entekhabi/Liang (C.) d. Dao/Daniels (APU), 8-5
2 – Tran/Bell (APU) d. Nagasako/Steckmest (C.), 8-3
3 – Jelsma/Gottfried (APU) d. Laygo/Fox (C.), 9-7
