AZUSA -- The BYU men's tennis team racked up another road win on Monday as it defeated Azusa Pacific 6-1, handing the APU Cougars their first loss on the season. BYU returns home with a 6-2 record, the program's best start since the 2000 season.

"I'm really pleased with how we bounced back after our loss to [Loyola Marymount]," said BYU head coach Brad Pearce. "Our team unity today was the best I've seen it this whole season. We had a complete effort. Not only did we play well, but our team spirit and communication was excellent."

The Cougars won the doubles point after securing wins at the No. 1 and No. 2 positions, with Cassidy Mears and Jonathan Sanchez posting an 8-3 win over Matthijs Bolsius and Patrick Kur. BYU switched things up with the other two pairs, as freshmen Daniel Hwang and Thomas Shubert came away with an 8-4 win after competing together for the first time this season.

"We took a fresh look at some new combinations today," said Pearce. "I was really pleased with Shubert and Hwang's performance. We're likely to see more of them together."

In singles play, Azusa Pacific's lone singles point came at the hands of Bolsius, knocking off Sanchez in 3 sets (6-3, 3-6, 6-4) at No. 1. BYU refused to give up any more points, however, winning the remaining five singles matches.

Shubert's hard-fought play kept his match from going into a third set, defeating Kur 7-5, 7-5, playing at No. 3 singles, Mears hung on for the 6-2, 7-5 win. Hwang, Evan Urbina and Tom Young won in relatively easy straight sets to clinch the team win.

Up next the Cougars travel to take on the University of Denver on Feb. 23.

RESULTS
Brigham Young 7, Azusa Pacific 2
 
Singles
1. Matthijs Bolsius (APU) def. Jonathan Sanchez (BYU), 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
2. Thomas Shubert (BYU) def. Patrick Kur (APU), 7-5, 7-5
3. Cassidy Mears (BYU) def. Mathias Weber (APU), 6-2, 7-5
4. Evan Urbina (BYU) def. Art Fatkhiev (APU), 6-2, 6-1
5. Daniel Hwang (BYU) def. Ronald Chow (APU), 6-2, 6-1
6. Tom Young (BYU) def. Daniel Moore (APU), 6-1, 6-4
 
Doubles
1. Mears/Sanchez (BYU) def. Bolsius/Kur (APU), 8-3
2. Hwang/Shubert (BYU) def. Fatkhiev/Weber (APU), 8-4
3. Chow/Moore (APU) def. Urbina/T. Young (BYU), 9-8 (8-6)

PROVO -- The No. 73 BYU men's tennis team plans to make the most out of its holiday weekend, traveling to California to play three matches in four days. The Cougars (4-1) return to the west coast to play College of the Desert, Loyola Marymount and Azusa Pacific.

A member of the California Community College division, College of the Desert has claimed the state championship title 12 of the past 16 seasons, including its most recent in 2007.

BYU was initially scheduled to face LMU on Jan. 26, but the schools were forced to reschedule due to inclement weather in southern California. Earlier in the fall season, BYU's Tyler Clonts and A.J. Young faced players from LMU at the So Cal Intercollegiate Tournament, posting a combined 2-0 record against the Lions.

At the same tournament, BYU's doubles teams of Daniel Hwang and Evan Urbina, along with Cassidy Mears and Jonathan Sanchez, recorded big wins against Azusa Pacific. The Cougars of APU currently hold a 4-0 record as a member of the NAIA and are coming off a 5-2 win over NCAA Division III's No. 4-ranked Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.

BYU's match against College of the Desert will begin at 1 p.m. PT on Friday, with the match against Loyola Marymount at 12p.m. PT on Saturday. After a rest on Sunday, the Cougars resume play on Monday, facing Azusa Pacific at 10:45 a.m. PT.