Mobile, Ala. -- Fresno Pacific almost completed a furious rally against No. 12 Azusa Pacific in the NCCAA Championship Final, but fell to the Cougars 5-3. In what has become typical FPU-APU fashion, the match was decided in the final two singles matches.

Azusa (27-7) took a 2-1 lead after doubles play and eventually pulled ahead 4-2 to push the Sunbirds (20-8 to the brink. FPU rallied with a straight set win at No. 5 singles but fell in a thrilling three-set match at No. 4 as APU claimed the national title.

“It was a good match just as everyone of ours have been with Azusa this season,” said head coach Neil Castro. “It was back and forth for six hours and it could have gone either way, we just came up a little short.”

For the first time at the tournament, the Sunbirds failed to grab the lead after doubles play. The Cougars jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after an 8-1 win over Stefan Loop and Marco Gabriel at No. 3 doubles. Kirill Sinitsyn and Kyle Rowe answered back shortly after defeating Jochem Hoefnagels and Jan Meyer 8-4. Who would have the early lead heading into singles came down to No. 2 doubles where Michael Tymkiw and Amarit Sanchez took a 5-2 lead and were well on their way to securing a lead. However, Whitman Hough and Frederik Wilkens had other ideas as they rallied to take an 8-4 comeback win, something APU would do in singles play as well.

In the one-on-ones Sanchez quickly tied the match back up scoring a straight set victory 6-0, 6-3 over Wilkens. FPU seemed to be in a great position as No. 13 Sinitsyn and Tymkiw took early leads in their matches. Sinitsyn dominated rival No. 14 Jochem Hoefnagels 6-1 in the first set, but as the Cougars did all-day Hoefnagels rallied and commanded the final two sets, winning both 6-2, 6-0. Tymkiw also held an early two-point lead in set one before Ben Eager stormed back for a 7-6 (7-5) victory. Tymkiw was unable to regain the lead and even the match at a set apiece as Azusa Pacific moved within one point of a national title.

At No. 5 singles Rowe worked quickly to earn a 6-2, 6-2 straight set victory, leaving the match in the hands of Gabriel and Loop and No. 4 and No. 6 singles. Both earned set one victories leaving the Sunbirds in a prime position to complete the rally and claim the national championship. But, as they have all season the Cougars and Sunbirds would take it down to the wire.

Both Azusa players rallied for set two wins leaving both up to a decisive third set. Gabriel quickly gained, and maintained a one-point lead pushing it to two at one point against Meyer. Meyer won two straight games and tied the match at 5. With their backs against the wall FPU never backed down, but Gabriel was unable to hang on as he fell 5-7 in the final frame and sealed the Sunbirds fate.

The loss closes out a fantastic first season in the NCAA for Fresno Pacific who saw their ranking climb as high as No. 11 early on in the season. A second place finish to No. 5 Hawaii Pacific in the PacWest Championship and a second place finish at the NCCAA Championships highlight the first season as a Division II member institution. 

Tennis Match Results
Fresno Pacific vs Azusa Pacific
5/10/2013 at Mobile, Ala.

#12 Azusa Pacific 5, #13 Fresno Pacific 3

 Singles competition
1. #14 Jochem Hoefnagels (APU-MT) def. #13 Kirill Sinitsyn (FPU-MT) 1-6, 6-2, 6-0
2. Amarit Sanchez (FPU-MT) def. Frederik Wilkens (APU-MT) 6-0, 6-3
3. Ben Eger (APU-MT) def. Michael Tymkiw (FPU-MT) 7-6 (7-5), 6-4
4. Jan Meyer (APU-MT) def. Marco Gabriel (FPU-MT) 4-6, 6-3, 7-5
5. Kyle Rowe (FPU-MT) def. Whitman Hough (APU-MT) 6-2, 6-2
6. Gary Yam (APU-MT) vs. Stefan Loop (FPU-MT) 2-6, 6-5, unfinished

 Doubles competition
1. Kyle Rowe/Kirill Sinitsyn (FPU-MT) def. Jochem Hoefnagels/Jan Meyer (APU-MT) 8-4
2. Whitman Hough/Frederik Wilkens (APU-MT) def. Michael Tymkiw/Amarit Sanchez (FPU-MT) 8-6
3. Ben Eger/Gary Yam (APU-MT) def. Stefan Loop/Marco Gabriel (FPU-MT) 8-1

Match Notes:
Fresno Pacific 20-8; National ranking #13; Regional ranking #3
Azusa Pacific 27-2; National ranking #12; Regional ranking #2
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (2,1,3,5,4)
NCCAA National Championship Match
Season Series: APU leads 2-1
Moved to Mobile Bay Convention Center due to rain
Azusa Pacific clinches NCCAA national championship
T-6:15