SURPRISE, Ariz. – A major rally didn't quite come to a complete realization.

Azusa Pacific fell behind early and couldn't recover as they dropped a 5-2 decision to Academy of Art in the semifinal round of the PacWest tournament.

The loss put the Cougars into the third-place match on Saturday at 9 a.m. against Point Loma.

Reaching the semifinal round at the league tournament for the first time since the 2014 season, Azusa Pacific put themselves behind the proverbial eight-ball. Despite a solid effort during singles play, the deficit was too much to overcome.

DOUBLES: Academy of Art swept all three matches in taking a lead that proved insurmountable.

The contest at the No. 3 slot was the first to finish as Monika Stanikova and Paula Alcantara got the lead early and kept the momentum in their 8-3 win.

The last two matches were decided by the same 8-5 score. Alma Thell-Lenntorp and Klara Thell-Lenntrop won at the No. 1 spot while Taissiia Andrieieva and Maria Andrisani took the match at the second position.

SINGLES: Azusa Pacific was able to mount a rally.

Toby Miclat won in straight sets (6-1, 6-3) at the No. 1 position to give the Cougars some life. Alcantara won at the No. 6 slot 6-0, 7-5 to put the Urban Knights within a team point of the victory.

Needing to win the remaining matches, Jackie Resler gave the Cougars a 6-4, 6-4 win at the No. 5 spot but Andrisani sealed the Academy of Art win with a 6-3, 6-4 victory at the third slot.

The remaining matches on the courts went unfinished after the Urban Knights sealed the team win. Petra Ivankovic was in a tight affair at the No. 2 slot while April Wong split sets in the fourth spot.