AZUSA, Calif. — Big news for Azusa Pacific University Athletics! Both the men’s and women’s tennis teams had an amazing start to the 2026 season, sweeping the weekly honors in the PacWest Conference.
On the women’s side, sophomore Stina Larsson captured the title of PacWest Player of the Week. The team also received the Team of the Week award after kicking off the season with a 4–0 record, which included three conference wins and a notable victory over Division I UC Riverside.
Larsson, named the 2025 PacWest Freshman of the Year, was impressive. She went undefeated in singles play and performed well in doubles too. Competing on top courts, she defeated strong opponents from UC Riverside, Concordia, Westmont, and Point Loma. In doubles, Larsson paired with Karola Suviste, winning three out of four matches despite facing tough Division I competition. They had previously won the Fall West Region ITA Doubles Championship together.
As a team, the Cougars claimed victories against UC Riverside (4–3), Concordia (6–1), Point Loma (5–2), and Westmont (7–0). They fought back from a slow start against UC Riverside, losing the doubles point before Larsson and Kimberly Tran led the team to a comeback with their straight-set wins. This strong performance also led them to victory over defending PacWest champion Point Loma, with Larsson shining on court one alongside wins from teammates like Vini Bautista and Melis Mert. Tran started the season unbeaten in both singles and doubles.
This successful start placed Azusa Pacific at No. 15 in the national rankings as of January 14, with the next update on February 18.
The men’s team mirrored this success. Sophomore David James Brownlee was named PacWest Player of the Week, helping the team go 3–0 in their opening matches.
Brownlee remained undefeated, showcasing his skills in both singles and doubles. He achieved victories against UC Riverside, Westmont, and Point Loma, including a nail-biting three-set win over Ivaylo Simeonov from UC Riverside. He teamed up with Viktor Van Craenenbroek to dominate in doubles, winning all three matches.
The men’s team achieved wins over UC Riverside (5–2), Point Loma (6–1), and Westmont (7–0). Soeren Grandke was particularly strong, finishing with a perfect singles record and securing crucial wins, like a tight three-set match against UC Riverside.
Currently, the Cougars hold a national ranking of No. 9 in the January 14 ITA poll, with another update also expected on February 18. The excitement around both programs reflects their hard work and determination this season!
These early successes echo the school’s proud tennis history, with both programs aiming to add to their legacy in the coming months. For more details on their performance, check out the latest rankings and updates from the Azusa Pacific Athletics website.
