AZUSA, Calif. - Azusa Pacific will return to Nationals for the second time in the NCAA era, after the Cougars beat Fresno Pacific 4-1 on Friday afternoon in a West Regional match in Azusa. The Cougars' last trip to Nationals was in 2019, when they beat Central Oklahoma and then fell to eventual national champion Barry in the quarterfinals. 

Friday's match was the third meeting between Fresno Pacific and the Cougars this year, as the two teams had met twice during the regular season, and Azusa Pacific was the victor in both. Today's match started out differently than the previous two, as it was the Sunbirds that took the early 1-0 match lead following doubles. While Carolyn Brooner and Katherine Nguyen won 6-2 at No. 3, Fresno Pacific secured the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and No. 2. Entering the match, the Cougars had lost the doubles point eight times, and in those matches Azusa Pacific posted an overall record of 2-6. 

With the season on the line, the Cougars roared back in singles and overcame any momentum that had been captured by the Sunbirds in singles. Madison Kane drew the Cougars even in the match, winning 6-4, 6-3 at No. 2. With the game score at 3-3 in the second set, Kane would break her opponent to go up 4-3, and then took the next two games to close out the victory.

Just moments after Kane's win, Brooner put the Cougars up 2-1 overall with a 6-3, 6-1 triumph at No. 4. Brooner was up 2-1 in the second set when she won four consecutive games to seal a win in her final home match of her collegiate career.

Before the cheers from Brooner's teammates ceased, April Wong added yet another point for Azusa Pacific to put the hosts up 3-1 overall. Wong rolled to a 6-1 first set triumph, and then she broke a 3-3 tie in the second set with three-consecutive games won to put the Cougars one point shy of a return trip to Nationals.

It was true freshman Katherine Nguyen at No. 6 who would deliver the final match-clinching victory for the Cougars. Nguyen took the first set 6-1, and then she maintained momentum in the second set to secure a 6-3 win and book Azusa Pacific's ticket to Nationals.

"It was a great collegiate tennis match today," said head coach Mark Bohren, "I was very proud of the way our team fought back after losing the doubles point. I was also impressed with Fresno Pacific's effort today, as they really pushed us... Coach Rodriguez is doing such a great job with his team."