California Baptist University
Azusa Pacific
ROLLING ALONG
3/24/2009 7:00:00 AM | Men's Track
AZUSA, Calif. --- Just minutes after Tuesday's men's tennis match at Azusa Pacific started, the NAIA released this week's Top 25 where CBU had moved up to No. 2, its highest ranking ever.
Just a few hours later, the Lancers justified their two-spot jump in the rankings.
Jump-started by a 2-1 lead after doubles, the Lancers won four singles' courts, all in straight sets, to get their 10th straight win with a 6-3 GSAC win over No. 6 Azusa Pacific. Eight of the Lancers' 11 wins this year have come against ranked teams, including each of the last four.
CBU improves to 11-1 overall, 9-1 GSAC, while the Cougars drop to 7-10, 5-4. This time last month, the Lancers picked up their first-ever win over Azusa Pacific. Today, they complete the season sweep.
Avenging an 8-4 loss in the last team's meeting a month ago, All-Americans Alessandro Ventre and Carlos Cirne-Lima got things started with an 8-3 win at No. 1 doubles over Mathijs Bolsius and Mathias Weber. Martin Vaisse teamed up with Sebastian Gruber, who was making just his third appearance of the season, at No. 3 doubles to get an 8-2 win over Janosch Apelt and Ilja Ikonnikov to make it 2-0.
The Cougars got their lone point at No. 2 doubles when Ron Chow and Daniel Moore narrowly edged out Lucas Pereira and Gabor Toth, 8-6.
Azusa Pacific quickly evened the match up when an injured Oliver Andrzjczuk had to retire in the first set at No. 5, giving the win to Chow. However, the Lancers won the next four singles' matches in straight sets, and Cirne-Lima provided the clinching point with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Apelt at No. 2.
“My hat goes of to (Azusa Pacific Head) Coach (Mark) Bohren; he has done a great job of teaching his guys how to use momentum,” said CBU Head Coach Chris Taylor. “Our boys had to fight all the way to end. I was very impressed with Sebastian. He stepped up big at No. 3 doubles with Martin. I wasn't sure what to expect from him today, but he proved to everyone that he can get the job done. I think the guys really rallied around his performance heading into singles.”
