AZUSA, Calif. - Both Concordia University Irvine tennis teams were up for the challenge on Tuesday as the Golden Eagles went toe-to-toe with the first-place Azusa Pacific Cougars on the road.
The women's match started smoothly for CUI as
Alicia Da Re and
Jessica Bear clinched the doubles point after
Sophie Rachor and
Bryn Johnson had won at the No. 1 doubles position.
Cheyenne Houkes was credited with forfeit win at No. 6 singles so CUI was up 2-0 immediately. That meant that just two of the other five matches needed to go Concordia's way for the Green and Gold to snap a 29-game losing streak to APU that dates back to the NAIA era.
APU clinched at No. 2 and No. 4 singles, but Rachor collected a point by winning in two sets at court one. With CUI up 3-2,
Bryn Johnson and Da Re went deep in their matches battling back and forth. APU ultimately won at court two in 7-6, 7-6 fashion, while Da Re won her second set in an extremley close 7-6, 4-6, 7-5 loss to Tina Moser.
CLICK HERE for the updated CUI women's tennis schedule
CLICK HERE for the current PacWest Conference women's tennis standings
The CUI men's tennis squad moved up from No. 20 to No. 17 in the ITA NCAA DII rankings, which is the highest they have been placed all season.
That ranking appears to be legitimate as well as the Golden Eagles nearly knocked off the sixth-ranked Cougars on their home courts.
Much like the ladies did, CUI claimed the doubles point with a strong start. Nationally-ranked
Max Mueller and
Felix Veyhle prevailed at No. 1 doubles while
Adam Large and
Max Renz performed well at the No. 3 spot to put CUI up 1-0.
Max Renz won at no. 4 singles and freshman
Oleksandr Kolesnychenko impressed again with a victory at the No. 6 position. However, the Cougars secured points at the other four spots to claim a hard-fought 4-3 win over CUI for the second time this season.
CLICK HERE for the updated CUI men's tennis schedule
CLICK HERE for the current PacWest Conference men's tennis standings
The CUI men will host Menlo this Friday. Both CUI tennis teams will enjoy Senior Day this Saturday, April 5 against Westmont with the ladies playing at 9 a.m. and the men to follow at approximately 1 p.m. PT
