COLUMBUS - Fresh off the 2020 Division II National Indoor Championship, the Columbus State University men's tennis team improved to 8-0 on Friday by defeating No. 8 Azusa Pacific 4-1. The nonconference match took place at the John W. Walden Tennis Center at Cooper Creek Park in Columbus.

It was the fourth straight win for CSU against a top-10 opponent, and the fifth consecutive against a top-20 team.

"We continue to play well, but there are things we need to tighten up," commented head coach Evan Isaacs. "The schedule has been a grind and we are playing the top teams in the nation, so nothing is going to be easy for us."

Like they have done all season, the Cougars earned the doubles point highlighted by Alvaro Regalado's and Javier Cueto Ramos' win at first doubles. The CSU pair took down No. 12 Jesse Hass and Leyton Bohren 6-4 to help set the tone for the rest of the day. After Matei Avram and Christian Garay fell 6-4 at second doubles, Tommaso Schold and Pietro Martinetti secured the Cougar's lead with a tight 7-6 (7-1) decision in the third position.

The bottom of the Columbus State lineup rolled on Friday as the Cougars swept fourth, fifth, and sixth singles. After already earning a ranked win in doubles action, Cueto Ramos was at it again at fourth singles. The freshman won 6-4, 6-4 over No. 39 Ryan Nuno to tally his first ranked win as a solo player. Schold was a straight-set winner over Hass playing in the fifth spot. Haas was the seventh-ranked singles player in the West region. 

Playing at sixth singles, freshman Martinetti raced to a 6-1, 6-1 victory. The Torino, Italy native is 3-0 on the year in singles competition.  

In the two unfinished matches, No. 2 Regalado was in a battle against No. 13 Jakob Schnaitter. The two-time UTR ITA National Player of the Week was up a set 6-5 but was trailing 5-6 in the second. Garay also took the opening set at third singles and was tied at three-all with Bohren in the second set. 

Azusa Pacific's (6-2) only point came after No. 3 Sam Sippel won 7-6, 6-1 over Fabien Asdrubal at the second spot. 

Columbus State will take on former Peach Belt Conference foe Montevallo on Saturday, March 7 at the Walden Tennis Center. The match will take place at 2:30 p.m., 30 minutes later the original scheduled 2 p.m. start time.