AZUSA, Calif.--No. 16 Azusa Pacific made another Pacific West Conference men's tennis statement with a 5-2 win over defending confernce champion Hawai`i Hilo on Monday afternoon at the Munson & Bavougian Tennis Complex.
The Cougars, whose only PacWest loss this season has been to Hawai`i Pacific, improved to 7-3 on the season. The Vulcans, playing the first match of a southern California road swing, fell to 1-7 in 2022.
APU picked up an upset on singles court No. 1 when Ryan Nuno defeated Martin Soukal, 6-2, 7-5. Soukal, who has only one other loss this season, defeated Nuno earlier this season in Honolulu, 6-3, 6-1. The Cougars, after winning the doubles point, also had straight sets victories on singles courts three, four and six.
The Vulcans earned a pair of points at No. 2 and No. 5 singles. On court two, Alessio Demichelis, reversed an early loss to Sam Sippel by winning in three sets, 0-6, 6-3, 6-1. Sippel, who was the PacWest Conference Freshman of the Year in 2021, had a career mark at APU of 39-4 coming into the match. Back in February on Oahu, Sippel defeated fellow sophomore Demichelis, 6-4, 6-4.
Luca Matheiowetz claimed the other Vulcan victory, winning on court five against the Cougars for the second time this season. Matheiowetz defeated Ivan Horning, 6-2, 6-3. As a team back on Feb. 12, Azusa edged the Vulcans, 4-3.
The Vulcans will have another challenge on Tuesday, facing Biola in La Mirada. The Eagles defeated UH Hilo to open their season in February, 5-2.
#16 Azusa Pacific 5, Hawai`i Hilo 2
Munson & Bavougian Tennis Complex, Azusa, Calif.
Singles competition
1. R. Nuno (APU) def. M. Soukal (UHH), 6-2, 7-5.
2. A. Demichelis (UHH) def. S. Sippel (APU), 0-6, 6-3, 6-1.
3. L. Bohren (APU) def. A. Gentile (UHH), 6-2, 6-0.
4. E. Walter (APU) def. L. Checchia (UHH), 7-5, 6-1.
5. L. Matheiowetz (UHH) def. I. Horning (APU), 6-2, 6-3.
6. M. Velicki (APU) def. J. Liu (UHH), 6-2, 6-0.
Singles order of finish: 3-6-5-4-2-1
Doubles competition
1. Nuno/Bohren (APU) def. Soukal/Demichelis (UHH), 7-5
2. Velicki/Walter (APU) def. Gentile/Liu (UHH), 6-2
3. Ethan Smith/Sippel (APU) vs. L. Hamano/Checchia (UHH), 5-4, UNF.
Doubles order of finish: 2-1
Records: #14 Azusa Pacific 7-3, Hawai`i Hilo 1-7
