The Cougars’ No. 1 doubles team of sophomore Jan Meyer and freshman Pascal Engel earned the only win for the Cougars in the narrow 5-4 loss to Barry. Photo credit: Kimberly Smith
The No. 11 Azusa Pacific men’s tennis team was one set away from defeating the top team in NCAA Division II, but fell short as it suffered a 4-5 loss to Barry on Wednesday, March 5. The Buccaneers have now won 39 consecutive matches.
The day began with Barry senior Ollie Lemaitre and sophomore Renato Lombardi defeating sophomore Tomas Aranguiz and freshman Alan Leahy 8-1 at No. 3 doubles. This was followed by the Buccaneers senior duo of Leo Vivas and Romain Costamagna defeating senior Freddy Wilkens and junior Gary Yam at No. 2 doubles, 8-5. This was the second time Wilkens and Yam played together in a doubles match and was Aranguiz and Leahy’s first time teaming up this season.
The Cougars closed doubles play on a high note at No. 1 as freshman Pascal Engel and sophomore Jan Meyer emerged victorious over No. 14 junior Fabian Groetsch and freshman Ahmed Triki, 8-6.
Meyer picked up the win at No. 1 singles against Triki (6-2, 6-3) after his 28-match regular season winning streak was snapped Monday. Wilkens defeated No. 12 ranked Groetsch in three sets, 6-2, 2-6, 10-7. The final Cougars victory of the day was Aranguiz’s win over Lemaitre at No. 5 singles, winning the first set after a tie breaker, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4.
The Buccaneers won the other three singles matches. No. 37-ranked Vivas defeated Yam 6-2, 6-0, Lombardi won Engel 6-1, 6-2 and Costamanga ended the day with a 6-2, 6-0 victory over Leahy.
After coming close to the big win, the Cougars now prepare to play Westmont on Friday, March 7 at the Munson & Bavougian Tennis Complex.