Azusa Pacific and the University of California San Diego faced off in a top 15 matchup this afternoon. As the Cougars took a 2-1 lead into singles, the Tritons rallied and clinched the match in the No. 5 singles for a 5-4 win.

Results

Marnix Pluim and Shepherd Newcomb were the only Cougars to drop a doubles match as they fell 8-5 in the No. 3 slot. Oliver Frank and Antonio Pejic held a strong lead over their opponents throughout the match topping the Tritons 8-6 in the No. 1 position. Pascal Engel and Christian Schmid were down 1-4 in the No. 2 spot until they tightened the score 6-7, the duo saved two match points to ultimately win 9-7.
 
With a 2-1 lead over the Tritons, the Cougars Pluim fell 6-3, 6-3 at the No. 4 spot to even the match. Frank reclaimed the Cougars lead at No. 1 downing his opponent 6-2, 6-5. Schmid continued the No. 11 Cougars singles success winning 7-5, 6-4 at the No. 2 spot. Engel recorded a 6-3, 6-0 setback in the No. 3 slot. After Newcomb who had won his first set at the No. 6 spot, he fell 1-6, 6-2, 6-2 to tie the team match 4-4. It all came down to the No. 5 matchup between Pejic and Rodrigo Amaral. The Cougars Pejic won the first set, then he fought off a 2-5 deficit in the second set to force a tiebreak but lost the extra session to force a decisive third set. Amaral won the last three games in the last set to secure the win for the No 13 UC San Diego.

There is a chance these two programs might run into each other once again at the NCAA west regional. The Cougars travel to Surprise, Arizona this week for the PacWest tournament, their schedule has yet to be announced. Heading into the league tournament, the Cougars overall record to 17-4.