PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. -- Rain, rain go away, come again another day.

It was the cry of everyone at the Peachtree City Tennis Center as torrential rains forced the quarterfinal matches of the 2003 NAIA Men’s Tennis Tournament to move indoors for the first time.

The downpour did its best to slow Azusa Pacific as did Berry (Ga.), but the Cougars dried out, adjusted, and despite getting a hefty scare, advanced to the Final Four for the first time ever with a 5-3 win over the unseeded Vikings in the quarterfinals.

From the outset it appeared as if the Cougars would cruise past the Vikings, as they swept all 3 doubles matches by identical 8-6 scores, enabling the Cougars to take just 2 singles’ matches to wrap up the match.

However, the NAIA’s No. 9-ranked Berry had other plans. With just 3 available courts, the teams played 1-3 singles first, and Berry got right back into the match winning at Nos. 1, 2 and 3, including Dennis den Boer’s (5-7, 6-4, 6-4) win over Sam Fletcher at No. 1, to even things at 3-3 heading into the second half of singles’ play. It was Fletcher’s first loss to an NAIA foe this year.

The match instantly became a race to 2, and Gordon Hong at No. 4 and Thomas Jelsma at No. 5 both recorded straight set wins to give the Cougars the necessary 5 points that put an end to the match and sent the Cougars to the semifinals. For good measure, Cole Billings was up 6-2, 1-0, at No. 6 when the match was called.

After 4 straight quarterfinal appearances without a win, the Cougars, who are making their seventh straight NAIA Tournament appearance, will be making their first-ever trip to the Final Four.

“It’s always different when you have to move indoors,” said Azusa Pacific head coach Mark Bohren. “It was difficult, but the guys adjusted and made it happen. I guess the fourth time’s a charm. We’re looking forward to another match tomorrow in the semis and are thrilled to be there.”

In the semifinals, the Cougars battle fourth-seed Embry-Riddle (Fla.), which was also thrown a scare by Virginia Intermont in its 5-3 win in the quarterfinals today. First serve for the match is scheduled for tomorrow at 7 a.m. (PST).

With today’s win, the NAIA’s top-ranked Cougars improve to 24-6 overall, while Berry’s season comes to a close at 21-6.

For all the latest on the NAIA Tennis Tournament, click here.

Singles
1 - Dennis den Boer (BC) def. Sam Fletcher (APU) 5-7, 6-4, 6-4
2 - Sven Plass (BC) def. Boris Bakalov (APU) 7-5, 6-0
3 - Tyler Faulkner (BC) def. Adam Davidson (APU) 6-3, 6-4
4 - Gordon Hong (APU) def. Rafa Rodriguez (BC) 6-3, 6-4
5 - Thomas Jelsma (APU) def. Philip Campbell (BC) 6-3, 6-2
6 - Cole Billings (APU) vs. Marc Duckeck (BC) 6-2, 1-0 â€" DNF

Doubles
1 - Fletcher/Davidson (APU) def. Den Boer/Faulkner (BC) 8-6
2 - Bakalov/Jelsma (APU) def. Plass/Rodriguez (BC) 8-6
3 - Billings/Hong (APU) def. Campbell/Duckeck (BC) 8-6