LA JOLLA, CALIF. – No. 14 Azusa Pacific matched-up in a thrilling contest against No. 12 UC San Diego in the NCAA Division II West Regional match. The Cougars came out on top 5-2 as they stamped their ticket to the NCAA Division II National Championships in Altamonte Springs, Fla. next week.
 
Results

The Cougars started the match trailing the Tritons 1-0 as the No. 3 tandem of Antonio Pejic and Marnix Pluim fell 8-4. Tying the match-up at 1-1 was Pascal Engel and Oliver Frank, who notched an 8-5 win at the No. 1 position.

Head Coach Mark Bohren and Christian Schmid Post Match Comments


 
Shepherd Newcomb and Christian Schmid were down 5-0 at the No. 2 slot when they stormed back. The Cougar duo won eight of the final nine games to win their match 8-6 in giving Azusa Pacific an important 2-1 lead into singles.
 
Frank continued the Cougars momentum with his 22nd singles win of the season. With his 6-2, 6-2 victory at the No. 1 singles contest against No. 41 Eric Tseng he upped the Cougars lead to 3-1. The Tritons notched their only singles win at the No. 4 spot as Marc Isaia beat Pluim 6-0, 6-4 at the No. 4 slot to bring the score to 3-2. Pejic won his match 6-2, 6-4 at the No. 6 spot to bring the Cougars one match away from taking it all. Schmid clinched the team match, winning 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 at the No. 2 position.
 
With the match clinched both Engel and Newcomb's matches went unfinished. Engel at the No. 3 spot was up 2-6, 6-3, 4-3 and Newcomb was trailing 4-6, 6-1, 3-1.
 
By winning the West Region match on Monday the Cougars earn a berth to the Division II National tournament as the West Region's No. 2 seed. The Cougars are scheduled to face the Atlantic Region's No.1 seed Bluefield State. The 16-team event begins on May 9. (NCAA Bracket)
 
It is the second time in three seasons the Cougars have qualified for the National Championships.