AZUSA, Calif.-Falling in straight sets, the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds (0-1 overall) dropped their first official match of the season 7-0 to the defending conference champion Azusa Pacific Cougars (2-0 overall) Wednesday at the Munson and Bavougian Tennis Complex.

Ben Cronau and Angel Espana each picked up some games on courts 1 and 6 respectively but the Cougars proved too much in the first official match of the year for the Sunbirds.

FPU played a pair of exhibitions and had Friday's match against APU slid to Wednesday before running into the buzzsaw that is APU.

Cronau played the 12^th ranked player in NCAA DII while Brodie Sodersten was matched up with the 31^st ranked Elias Emilio Walter.

Sodersten found his grove in the second set but couldn't take a set off of his opponent.

The Sunbirds were down early after falling 6-2 in doubles on both of the first two courts. Martin Ramirez and Gregor Kliimask were trailing 4-3 when the point was clinched.

Fresno Pacific will now turn its sights onto a home conference match with Biola on Monday, February 13^th.

SUNBIRD SOCIAL

• Twitter - @fpusunbirds
• Instagram - @fpusunbirds
• Facebook - /FPUsunbirds