SAN DIEGO - The No. 45 Point Loma men's tennis team was edged 5-4 by No. 12 Azusa Pacific on Saturday, Feb. 7. Point Loma (0-2) took four of the six singles matches but it was not enough overcome Azusa Pacific (2-0) sweeping doubles to start the match.
 
CJ Erion made quick work of Cameron Backman on court 5 sweeping him 6-1 and 6-3 to bring the match score to 3-1. The freshman is now 2-0 in singles in his young career. After APU picked up a point at No. 1 singles, Martin Blaho won 7-5 and 6-4 at No. 2s to bring the Sea Lions within two points at 4-2 with three matches yet to be decided.
 
The remaining three matches all went to the third set with the Sea Lions needing all three to pull off the win. Jack Alston battled his opponent on court 6 but fell in the end 3-6, 6-3 and 6-2 as the Cougars won the match.
 
James Tenbroeck and Daniel Milliken finished off their opponents after that, at No. 3 and No. 4, tightening the match score but it was too late for the Sea Lions.
 
"I was happy with the way the guys played and competed in singles," said PLNU head coach Curt Wheeler. "The guys fought hard with everything they had until the end. I was proud of their efforts and the way they laid it all on the line.
 
"We just have to get better in doubles," Wheeler added.
 
The Sea Lions will now take an 11-day competition hiatus before returning to the court on Feb. 18 to host Western New Mexico at 2:00 p.m.
 
#12 Azusa Pacific 5, #45 Point Loma 4
Singles competition
1. Jan Meyer (APU-M) def. Staab, Andre (PLNU-MT) 6-0, 6-3
2. Blaho, Martin (PLNU-MT) def. Ben Eger (APU-M) 7-5, 6-4
3. Tenbroeck, James (PLNU-MT) def. Alan Leahy (APU-M) 3-6, 7-5, 6-4
4. Milliken, Daniel (PLNU-MT) def. Gary Yam (APU-M) 2-6, 6-4, 6-3
5. Erion, CJ (PLNU-MT) def. Cameron Backman (APU-M) 6-1, 6-3
6. Tomas Aranguiz (APU-M) def. Alston, Jack (PLNU-MT) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
 
Doubles competition
1. Jan Meyer/Gary Yam (APU-M) def. Staab, Andre/Milliken, Daniel (PLNU-MT) 8-5
2. Pascal Engel/Ben Eger (APU-M) def. Blaho, Martin/Erion, CJ (PLNU-MT) 8-4
3. Alan Leahy/Shepherd Newcomb (APU-M) def. Tenbroeck, James/Alston, Grant (PLNU-MT) 8-5
 
Match Notes:
Azusa Pacific 2-0; National ranking #12; Regional ranking #2
Point Loma 0-2; National ranking #45; Regional ranking #5
T-4:01 A-88