SURPRISE, Ariz. - Azusa Pacific women's tennis secured the program's first ever PacWest Championship on Saturday. The battle was hard fought between the No. 6 Cougars and No. 11 Hawai'i Pacific, as it required all six singles matchups to determine the eventual champion.

The Cougars have been able to set the tone in doubles all-season, in that they have secured the doubles point in all 14 of their victories this season. The PacWest Championship was no different, as Carolyn Brooner and Jacky Wagner claimed their seventh straight victory at No. 2 in dominant 6-0 fashion. This was Brooner and Wagner's second 6-0 victory of the PacWest tournament. Following Brooner and Wagner, Courtney Page and Madison Kane won their 13th straight at No. 3 with a 6-2 victory to clinch the doubles point for Azusa Pacific.

Kane, who has been an integral part of the Cougar's success this season as a true freshman at No. 5, made quick work of her opponent (6-1, 6-0) to give the Cougars a 2-0 lead. Elodie Busson of Hawai'i Pacific was able to bring the match score to 2-1 with a 6-2, 7-5 win at No. 2.

Brooner would put Azusa Pacific just one point away from the historical finals victory at No. 4, as she won in set one by a 6-4 score, then closed it out 6-3 in the second set. The Sharks would not fold however; winning the No. 6 and No. 1 matchups.

Nicole Ballach, of the Sharks was victorious on court No. 6 by the final of 6-3, 6-2, and then Marleen Tilgner won in straight sets (6-4, 6-4) at No. 1 to lock the match score up at 3-3.

The fate of the PacWest Championship was now on court No. 3, in a clash between Wagner and Mihoki Miyahara of Hawai'i Pacific. Wagner took set one by a score of 6-2, but Miyahara came right back in the second set despite being down 3-1 one to begin the frame. Miyahara battled to take a 5-4 set lead, and then Wagner won the next game to even the score at fives. Miyahara was able to get a break and win the final two games to force a third and final set.

In the third set, Wagner took full control early, eventually delivering the Cougars' first-ever PacWest Championship with a 6-1 victory. Upon Wagner's final point, her teammates rushed the court and the celebration ensued. Wagner was awarded the tournament's Most Outstanding Player award

Jacky Wagner clinched the win for the Cougars in the clash at No. 3. Wagner was a key piece to this Azusa Pacific championship team. Wagner posted a 6-0 record in her doubles and singles matches across three PacWest tournament contests this weekend. Her efforts in the tournament earned her the Most Outstanding Player Award.

The victory was a measure of revenge against the Sharks, as Hawai'i Pacific knocked the Cougars out in the semifinals of the PacWest tournament in 2019. The No. 3 seed Sharks waerelooking for their third straight PacWest Championship in this matchup, yet were denied by the No. 1 seed Cougars. 

Up Next: With the victory, the Cougars have secured an automatic bid to the NCAA West Regional. This is the program's third regional appearance as a member of NCAA Division Il. Azusa Pacific's most recent appearance was in 2019, when the Cougars advanced all the way to quarterfinals of the NCAA National Championships. Azusa Pacific will await the seeding for the West Regional from the NCAA, which is expected to be announced next Tuesday, May 4 at 5:30 pm. Check back on APUCougars.com for the details on Azusa Pacific's upcoming matchups as they are released.