SURPRISE, Ariz. - Azusa Pacific is the PacWest Champion for the second time in program history, after the Cougars took down top-seed Hawai'i Pacific by a 4-3 score in the championship match on Saturday in Arizona.

The Cougars' last title came in 2018, when they beat Hawai'i Hilo 5-2. Today's match marked the fourth time that Azusa Pacific and Hawai'i Pacific had met in the PacWest Championship final, and it will be the 2022 squad that will be known as the team that beat the Sharks for the first time in the title match. Not only did the win have historical significance, but Azusa Pacific also avenged a pair of regular season losses to Hawai'i Pacific this season. 

Azusa Pacific men's tennis has now won a total of 11 conference championships in conference, winning nine GSAC tites (1994, 98, 99, 2002, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07) and two PacWest crowns (2018 & 22). Head coach Mark Bohren has been at the helm for all 11 of the Cougars' championships.

Azusa Pacific seized the early advantage in the match, taking the doubles point from the Sharks. At No. 1, the Cougars' All-PacWest First Team duo of Leyton Bohren and Ryan Nuno defeated the Sharks' Jan Pleva and Jordi Walder in under 20 minutes. Bohren and Nuno jumped ahead 3-0 in the set, and they would maintain a two game cushion throughout, eventually winning 6-2.

The Cougars' No. 3 pairing of Ethan Smith and Sam Sippel clinched the doubles point, defeating Jan Heine & Benjamin Loccisano by a 6-3 score. Smith and Sippel took a quick 4-0 lead and maintained control in their duel.

Hawai'i Pacific tied the match up at 1-1 to start singles, off of a straight set win at No. 1. However, the Cougars would take the lead back, with Elias Emilio Walter (No. 4) and Sippel (No. 2) both winning in straight sets. After winning the first set 6-4, Walter was locked in a 2-2 tie in the second set when he won four straight games to win 6-2 and put the Cougars up 2-1. Over on court No. 2, Sippel battled Pleva in the first set to an ultimate 7-6 (7-1) tiebreak win. In the second set, Sippel would beat Pleva 6-3 to make it 3-1 overall.

The Sharks would draw even with a pair of three-set wins at No. 5 and No. 6, which meant the duel at No. 3 between Bohren and Robin Sanz would decide the champion of the PacWest.

Bohren had grabbed the early momentum in the first set, taking a 5-1 lead. However, Sanz would win the next four games to tie it at 5-5. Bohren would regain a 6-5 lead, but Sanz would win the 12th game to force a tiebreak. In the tiebreak, Sanz would cruise to a 7-1 lead to take the first set. 

In the second set, neither Bohren or Sanz would fold, with both players holding serve to a 6-6 tie to force a tiebreak once again. This time, it would be Bohren that emerged as the victor in the tiebreak, winning 8-6, to force a third and final set for the conference title.

Bohren would take the first three games of the final set, as held serve in game one, broke Sanz in the second, and held serve once again in the third. Game four through eight, both players held serve, however, Bohren would serve for the match in game nine with a 5-3 lead, but Sanz would hold on for a huge break to keep the Sharks alive for the moment. The hope would be short lived, with Bohren responding in the tenth game with a break of Sanz to capture Azusa Pacific's second PacWest title in program history.

Following the match, Bohren was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, while Nuno earned the Sportsmanship Award.

COUGARS CELEBRATE TITLE-CLINCHING POINT