AZUSA, Ca – In a battle of two of the nation's top 3 teams, it was No. 2 Fresno Pacific that prevailed with a 6-3 victory over No. 3 Azusa Pacific on Thursday afternoon at the Munson and Bavougian Tennis Complex.

Wednesday's match also broke a tie for first place in the GSAC.  Fresno Pacific (7-1, 6-0 GSAC) is now alone in first place in the conference.  Azusa Pacific falls to 5-2 (5-1 GSAC).

The Subirds' win over the the Cougars on Wednesday was their 42nd straight GSAC victory.

Sunbird junior Katia Sabate's 6-0, 6-0 win at No. 1 singles over the Cougars' Sheryl Bon was her eighth straight victory.  She has not lost a singles or doubles match this season.

The Sunbirds travel to Costa Mesa, CA this Saturday to face No.10 Vanguard (3-4, 3-3 GSAC) on Saturday, March 7th at 11:00am.

Box Score:

March 5, 2009

Munson and Bavougian Tennis Complex – Azusa, CA

No. 2 Fresno Pacific def. No. 5 Azusa Pacific 6-3

Doubles:

Vanessa Heroux/Katia Sabate (FPU) def. Sheryl Bon/Emily Ignas 8-5

Ornella Gentile/Maria Klokotzky(FPU) def. Marie Tanaka/Casey Wetzig 8-2

Katy Jelsma/Natalie McNall (APU) def. Yulia Blinovskaya/Elizabeth McFeeters 8-1

Fresno Pacific led 2-1 after doubles - Order of finish: 3, 2, 1

Singles:

Katia Sabate (FPU) def. Sheryl Bon (APU) 6-0, 6-0

Ornella Gentile (FPU) def. Casey Wetzig (APU) 6-0, 6-0

Emily Ignas (APU) def. Maria Klokotzky (FPU) 5-7, ret.

Vanessa Heroux (FPU) def. Natalie McNall (APU) 6-0, 6-2

Yulia Blinovskaya (FPU) def. Marie Tanaka (APU) 6-2, 6-4

Leah Hoffee (APU) def. Elizabeth McFeeters (FPU) 6-4, 6-3

*Denotes clinching match – Order of finish: 1, 4, 2*, 3, 5, 6

Records: Fresno Pacific (7-1, 6-0 GSAC)

               Azusa Pacific (5-2, 5-1 GSAC)