FAIRMONT, W. Va. – Azusa Pacific Acrobatics and Tumbling touched down in West Virginia Monday evening, opening a two-match road trip with a 257.305-246.390 loss against Fairmont State.

The Cougars found themselves behind early, as the Falcons won the compulsory event 36.9-35.45.  Fairmont State continued to pull away, winning all three acro heats and opening a lead of more than three points.  Azusa Pacific was able to climb back into the meet because of a Falcon miscue in the synchronized pyramid heat.  That allowed the Cougars to cut into the deficit and climb within a point and a half at halftime.

Fairmont State regained the ground they had given up with a spectacular run in the toss event, putting them exactly four points ahead of the Cougars.  The tumbling event was basically a draw, with the Cougars winning the trio pass, but the Falcons taking two of the individual heats.  In the team event, the concern was not so much about the result as it was an apparent injury the Cougars suffered on a tumbling pass in the middle of the team event.  Fairmont State won that team event with an 84.73 to the Cougars' 77.84 to pull away for the 10-plus-point win.

The result snapped a 7-match winning streak for Azusa Pacific against Fairmont State, though the Cougars still lead the all-time series 8-2.  Azusa Pacific and Fairmont State are two of the five remaining founding members of the NCATA, along with Division I programs Baylor, Oregon, and Quinnipiac.

Up Next: Azusa Pacific (1-2) has a quick turnaround time as they head north to Pittsburgh for a first-time clash against Duquesne, a Division I school in its second year of competition.  The meet is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (3:00 p.m. Pacific) on Wednesday.