Freshman Pascal Engel was one of three Cougars to win a three-set match on Wednesday, coming up with a key victory for APU against the Emory Eagles. Photo credit: Steven Mercado
The common theme of the day for the Azusa Pacific men’s tennis team was bouncing back from rough starts. After falling 3-1 after the first four matchups, freshman Alan Leahy’s win sparked a surge that caused the Cougars to not lose another set in the match, upsetting Division III’s No. 7-ranked Emory (Ga.), 6-3 on Wednesday, March 12.
Emory’s No. 1 doubles team of juniors Alex Ruderman and Ian Wagner started the day with an 8-5 victory over sophomore Jan Meyer and freshman Pascal Engel. The Eagles then proceeded to take No. 3 doubles as well, as sophomore Eric Brinzenskiy and junior Eric Halpern defeated Leahy and sophomore Tomas Aranguiz, 8-2.
The Cougars avoided a sweep in doubles sets as senior Freddy Wilkens and junior Gary Yam defeated senior Jackson Isaacs and freshman Rocco English at No. 2 doubles, 8-6.
To begin singles play, the Eagles were the first to strike once again. No. 33-ranked Ian Wagner defeated Aranguiz 6-2, 6-4 at No. 5 singles. This was Aranguiz’s second time playing at the fifth singles spot.
Leahy then defeated No. 12-ranked sophomore Rafe Mosetick at No. 3 singles, 6-4, 6-4. Yam followed with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over sophomore Will Adams at No. 6.
The final three sets of the match were decided in three hard-fought sets. The first two matchups fell behind in their first sets, having to climb out of a one-set hole. Wilkens defeated No. 7-ranked Halpern at No. 2 singles as he gradually upped his game throughout each set and emerged victorious, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2. Engel followed with his three-set win over senior Nick Szczurek, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5. Meyer finished the match with a three-set victory over Ruderman, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2.
After six straight home matches, Azusa Pacific will head to La Jolla to face No. 2-ranked Hawai’i Pacific on Friday, March 14. This match will finish their three-match week.