MOBILE, Ala. -- The old saying claims that familiarity breeds contempt, but for Azusa Pacific it means something completely different.
The Cougars, the number 3 seed of the tournament, met fellow GSAC member Vanguard 13 days after defeating the Lions in the Region II semifinals.
The result today was the same as the Cougars swept past the Lions, 5-0, to advance to Thursday’s semis at the NAIA Championship Tournament in Mobile, Ala.
Azusa Pacific will face another team it has seen a lot of this season – Fresno Pacific. However, unlike their success against the Lions, the Cougars have not beaten the Sunbirds this year. They now meet on the national stage with a trip to the final at stake.
“The girls played really well today and I’m proud of what they have accomplished,” said head coach Mark Bohren. “Our doubles teams were key and now we have to be ready to go tomorrow.”
Both Cougar teams reached the national semis for the third consecutive season.
The momentum was established quickly at the Mobile Tennis Center as the Cougars put together a tremendous morning of doubles action led by their No. 3 team of Peggy Bell and Raquel Gottfried who blitzed Damia Donkervoort and Natalie Kelley, 8-2.
In singles play Kim Tran and Bay Daniels put in their usual quality effort getting victories at No. 3 and No. 4 to win the match.
Now the big question is can the Cougars find 5 points to get past their nemesis. Twice they have dropped 6-3 decisions to the Sunbirds while losing 5-2 in the Region playoffs. In all 3 of the previous matches, the Cougars have come out of doubles play trailing and if they can turn the tables there it could prove to be a crucial swing that could lead to a win.
Azusa Pacific improves to 21-5 on the season while Vanguard’s campaign comes to an end at 19-6.
Singles
#1 - Jennifer Dao (APU) vs. Hana Jurcovicova (VU), 6-2 DNF
#2 - Peggy Bell (APU) vs. Amy Brown (VU), 4-3 DNF
#3 - Kim Tran (APU) def. Damia Donkervoort (VU), 6-0, 6-2
#4 - Bay Daniels (APU) def. Tiffany Teerawat (VU), 6-1, 6-3
#5 - Raquel Gottfried (APU) vs. Olivia Amstad (VU), 3-6 DNF
#6 - Katy Jelsma (APU) vs. Natalie Kelley (VU), 4-6 DNF
Doubles
#1 - Dao/Tran (APU) def. Brown/Jurcovicova (VU), 8-4
#2 - Daniels/Jelsma (APU) def. Teerawat/Amstad (VU), 8-4
#3 - Bell/Gottfried (APU) def. Donkervoort/Kelley (VU), 8-2
