ANDREW SHORTALL | staff writer

On Feb. 22, Cougar men’s tennis defeated Biola 7-0 and the women’s squad prevailed over Biola 7-2 in their match.

Men’s tennis also set a GSAC record with their win.

The Cougar set a GSAC record for the most consecutive wins with 54. This record was previously held earlier this year by Vanguard’s basketball team when they were victorious in 53 straight games.

Men’s tennis also won their next GSAC matches with an 8-1 win over Westmont and a 9-0 win over Hope International and extended their streak to 55 consecutive wins.

There is no doubt the student athletes of both schools are even more acquainted with the rivalry and no one but them could know how much pressure it adds on.

“Biola is the big rival and you always want to go out and get the job done,” sophomore No. 5 singles player Eric Isaacson said.

This time around against Biola, there was more at stake than Cougar pride.

APU went into their match against the Eagles hoping to win not only for bragging rights, but to set a GSAC record. Despite all this mounting pressure, sophomores No. 2 singles player Ronald Chow and Isaacson went into the match relaxed.

“We don’t want to be cocky but we’re pretty confident,” Isaacson said.

Chow’s confidence before his match paid off as he defeated Biola’s Tyler Jung with a 6-0, 6-0 straight sweep.

“I swept my guy in a half hour,” Chow said.

Isaacson’s match also started out smooth, but the intensity increased as it went along.

“I ended up winning the first set six to one, and before I knew it I was down zero to four in the second set. No one had lost to Biola in years,” Isaacson said. “I said ‘come on, I’ve got to win this one in two sets.’ Somehow I won six games in a row and won six to four. I just found it somewhere and stepped it up.”

The women’s team had a good experience as well with their big win over the Eagles.

Sophomore No. 5 singles Jessalyn Lau was also aware of the Biola rivalry but it was not the first thing in her mind. Lau ended up playing an old friend from Biola who used to be her doubles partner. It was more of a friendly competition for her than an intense rivalry and she still came out victorious.

“I didn’t really get worked up over that match,” Lau said. “It’s always tough playing her so it was a good win for me.”

Women’s tennis only had five women play on Friday because of all of the injuries they have been plagued with and they still achieved a big win over Biola on Friday.
There is no doubt the men’s squad are hoping to extend their winning streak, but the road after Biola will be getting tougher.

“The season is getting tougher after Biola with Vanguard, Fresno and Point Loma. All the big ones,” Isaacson said.

However, the men will need to stay focused for the teams that are not as big a threat, like they did with Biola.

Only time will tell how far men’s tennis will be able to go in extending their record breaking consecutive winning streak and establishing a GSAC Record. They go into the rest of the season will a lot of confidence after defeating their rival 9-0.

“We need to stay competitive,” said Isaacson. “We need to encourage our team to excel and do well.”