SAN DIEGO – Point Loma was finally able to begin their season after several scrimmages and matches were canceled due to rain over the past couple of weeks. The Sea Lions hosted the No. 13 Azusa Pacific Cougars in their first official action of the 2019 season and APU walked away with the 4-0 victory. 

The teams played to clinch but began with doubles competition under the newest rule where doubles competition only counts for one total point. Doubles play saw some heavy competition on all three courts, but APU would earn the first win with a 6-4 victory on court two. Mark Vasat and Mark Penner played in the No. 3 position and forced a tiebreak set. Despite having a couple of match point opportunities, APU once again came away with the win 12-10 in the tiebreak. The Cougars secured the doubles point with their second doubles win, but the pair of Yuki Okamoto and Thomas Dafcik earned a win at No. 1 doubles winning 8-6 on a tiebreak.

Heading to singles competition the Cougars took advantage of their matchups and were able to secure three straight wins to take the match. APU earned wins on courts three, two, and six, respectively, while the other remaining matches were left unfinished. The Sea Lions battled in each singles match but the Cougars worked to get the wins they needed. Point Loma will face another tough regional foe when they host UC San Diego on Wednesday. 

Team Records
Point Loma 0-1, Azusa Pacific 3-0

Wheeler's Words
On getting their season underway: "I think the guys, as well as our coaching staff, were excited to play finally. We had a couple of scrimmages in January canceled, our first match was canceled due to rain, even today we were delayed a couple of hours due to rain. It was one of those situations where we had to be patient and the day finally came where we were able to play. We played a team that is normally top-ten in the nation, we knew it was going to be a very tough match. We came out extremely strong in doubles, we lost the double point by literally one point. It was a big momentum shift to not get that point but they were ready to go. "

On doubles play: "How you start the match with doubles, even with it being worth just one point, it is a big momentum shifter. They we competed and fought for every point and game out there was awesome. I think it really set the tone, even though we lost the doubles point, going into singles and it showed our opponent we were ready to play. We want the doubles point, we want every point out there, and I am confident it can be a strength for us this year." 

On starting the season with tough regional opponents: "You can look at it different ways. You can look at the canceled scrimmages and the canceled match against Redlands as missed opportunities for practice and preparation. You can also look at it as we are starting the season against really good teams where our intensity level has to be at 100 percent to start the year. That's how it was today, I was happy and proud of the guys for how intense and focused they were because truthfully that is how we have to be every match. We can't have a match where we don't have that intensity and expect to go out and win. I love starting off with that great competition, I hope the guys see it that way. I know they are going to be hungry and ready to go next week against UCSD."

News and Notes
> Going back to last season, Dafcik and Okamoto have won seven of their last eight doubles matches. 
> The Sea Lions have only won their season opener once in the in the past nine seasons (2018, 8-1 over San Diego Christian)
> The Sea Lions are now 11-50 all-time when facing the Cougars. 

Up Next
Point Loma will have another tough match on Wednesday when they host UCSD at 3:30 p.m. at the PLNU Tennis Courts. 

Results
Box score

Match Notes:
Azusa Pacific 3-0; National ranking #13
Point Loma 0-1
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (3,2,6)
T-2:27 A-50