ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. - Azusa Pacific's historic 2024 season came to an end on Tuesday, as the Cougars were beaten by Charleston (W.V.) by a 4-2 score in the round of 16 at Nationals. The loss also brings to an end the Cougars' 23-match winning streak, which is a program record. 

While Soeren Grandke and Constantin Barth opened up play with a 6-3 win at No. 3 doubles for the Cougars, Charleston answered back with wins at No. 1 and No. 2 to secure the doubles point and hold the upper hand heading into singles.

Grandke and Barth continued to do all they could for the Cougars, as the freshman duo each won their singles matchups. Grandke was the first to finish at No. 3, winning 6-1, 6-3, and following a Charleston victory at No. 6, Barth made it 2-2 overall with a 6-3, 6-4 sweep at No. 5. Charleston closed the match out with wins at No. 4 and No. 1 to secure its spot in the national quarterfinals. 

Grandke and Barth close out their season with a 14-0 record when playing together in doubles, while individually, Barth went undefeated with a 19-0 record and Grandke was 21-2. 

While the season ended sooner than anyone involved with the Cougar program wanted, the 2024 campaign will still go down as a memorable one. Head coach Mark Bohren, who was announced as the national Coach of the Year by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, led the Cougars to their first-ever undefeated regular season in program history, as they took a 19-0 record into the postseason. The Cougars kept things rolling at the PacWest Tournament, winning three matches on their way to a third-consecutive conference title, which also helped them earn the No. 1 seed in the West Regional. The Cougars booked their ticket to the round of 16 at Nationals with a 4-0 defeat of Point Loma in their regional matchup. Coach Bohren has now led Azusa Pacific to an NCAA postseason appearance in every season since the Cougars became eligible for NCAA Division II postseason in 2015. 

On the court, the Cougars were led this season by team captains Elias Emilio Walter and Miha Velicki. The captains were All-PacWest First Team selections for both singles and doubles, while Walter also earned multiple regional honors as the Most Improved Player and the Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award winner.

While the Cougars lose Cole Rassner to graduation ahead of next season, Coach Bohren is set to return all five of his regular starters from this season, and the 2025 season has the potential to be another historic one for men's tennis.