Two days after nearly knocking off the top team in NCAA Division II, the Azusa Pacific men’s tennis team bounced back from the tough loss with a 7-2 win against Westmont on Friday, March 7.
APU head coach Mark Bohren decided to change things up against the Warriors. Senior Freddy Wilkens was paired with junior Gary Yam for the third time this season and they suffered an 8-5 loss against senior Tim Goranson and senior John Bertram at No. 2 doubles. Wilkens and Yam fell to a 1-2 record as doubles teammates.
Sophomore Tomas Aranguiz was paired with freshman Alan Leahy for the second time this season. The young duo took down Westmont’s young pair of sophomore Travis Kimsey and freshman Tommy Nightingale at No. 3 doubles, 8-3.
The dominant duo of sophomore Jan Meyer and freshman Pascal Engel improved their record to 7-4 with an 8-6 victory over senior Rodrigo Schaefer and junior Joshua Barnard.
Aranguiz was moved up from his normal spot at No. 6 singles to No. 3 and did not disappoint, fighting for a 6-1, 7-6 victory over No. 29 ranked Bertram. Leahy moved up to the No. 4 spot, which is normally Yam’s spot; Yam was left out of the singles lineup for the day. Filling in at Yam’s spot, Leahy lost a close one to No. 36 Barnard, 7-5, 3-6, 11-9.
Sophomore Joseph Remington started at singles for the second time this season and earned a 6-4, 6-2 win over Nightingale. Remington won both of his starts in singles so far this season.
Meyer, Wilkens and Engel remained in the spots they normally play in singles matches. Meyer defeated No. 7 Schaefer at No. 1 singles, 6-4, 7-5. Wilkens defeated No. 10 Goranson at No. 2 singles, 6-3, 7-6. Engel defeated Kimsey at No. 5 singles, 6-1, 6-1.
With the win, Azusa Pacific improves to a 9-2 overall record. The Cougars will begin another three-game week on Monday, March 10 against Western New Mexico. The match will begin at 1:30 p.m. at the Munson & Bavougian Tennis Complex.