Freshman Natalie Johnson has the best singles’ record for the Cougars (10-3). She won her singles and doubles matches against the Academy of Art on Friday, March 8. Photo credit: Kimberly Smith
After suffering back-to-back losses to teams in the top-10 of the NCAA Division II, the No. 16 Azusa Pacific women’s tennis team did not let its fourth game in five days slow the team down and it powered through for a 5-3 upset over the No. 13 Academy of Art Urban Knights on Friday, March 8.
The No. 20 ranked duo of senior Emily Harris and junior Danae Ingwaldson remained a bright spot for the team. On Friday, the women defeated junior Nina Gajdosikova and senior Daniela Amelunge at No. 1 doubles, 8-3.
At No. 2 doubles, Academy of Art’s sophomore Lucia Zavarcikova and junior Jenny Johansson defeated sophomore Lindsey Yeom and senior Kim Koetterheinrich, 8-5. The Cougars responded at No. 3 doubles with freshman Natalie Johnson and senior Stephanie Quan emerging victorious against sophomore Michelle Dandik and freshman Annika Schneider, 8-5.
The closest match of the day was between Ingwaldson and Dandik. The match went to three sets—Ingwaldson cruised through the first set, 6-2, Dandik responded by cruising through her set, 1-6, and in the tiebreaking set, Ingwaldson held on for the victory, 6-4.
No. 25 Harris defeated Gajdosikova 7-5, 6-2 at No. 1 singles and Johnson defeated Zavarcikova 6-3, 7-5 at No. 2. Yeom suffered a loss to Schneider at No. 4 (6-2, 6-3) and Koetterheinrich lost to Johansson at No. 6 (6-2, 6-3).
The win boosts the Cougars to a 9-4 record. They have a well-deserved restful week coming up, the only match being against Western New Mexico on Monday, March 10. The match will start at 1:30 at the Munson & Bavougian Tennis Complex.