May 17, 2007

MOBILE, Ala. - No. 1 Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) and No. 2 Azusa Pacific (Calif.) each secured spots in the 2007 NAIA Men's Tennis National Championship match with 5-3 victories, setting up a national championship rematch from the 2006 season that saw AUM defeat APU, 5-0.

AUM moved into the final round with a 5-3 victory over Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.), as Anton Brykalin and Daniel Plasa opened play with a doubles win over FHU's Alberto Gonzalez and Fransisco Redondo, 9-8.

Victor Sanaki Papi teamed with Nikola Miskovic to grab AUM's second doubles win, while Plasa, Tim Murdick and Miscovik each earned singles wins to advance into the title match.

Azusa Pacific also got a pair of doubles wins, as David Goodman and Mathias Bolsius won 8-4 and Ronald Chow teamed with Robby Dabbs to beat Embry-Riddle's Istvan Bolgar and Luke Maricic, 8-5. The Cougars went on to get singles wins from Patrick Kur, Bolsius and Art Fatkhiev to win the match 5-3.

AUM will be going for its seventh team title in Senator tennis history, while Azusa will attempt to win its second national championship in tomorrow's match, which gets underway at 9 a.m. at the Mobile Tennis Center in Mobile, Ala.

Last season, APU went into the title match as the tournament's top seed, but AUM, last year's No. 2, made quick work of the Cougars with a 5-0 victory.

For results, scores and championship recaps of Thursday's title match, log on to www.naia.org and click on the Men's Tennis Championship link.