May 18, 2006

MOBILE, Ala. - The seeding held during the 2006 NAIA Men's Tennis National Championship as #1 Azusa Pacific University (Calif.) and #2 Auburn University Montgomery (Ala.) both advanced to the championship match on Friday at the Mobile Tennis Center. 

Defending national champion Azusa Pacific won two of the three doubles matches for the early lead.  Freed-Hardeman University (Tenn.) captured the #2 doubles, but could not get any closer as APU won the #2, #3 and #4 singles matches for the 5-1 victory.  Azusa's lost double match was the only loss of the tournament for the Cougars.  APU has reached the championship match each of the three previous years, winning in 2005.

Auburn Montgomery took a 3-0 lead against Embry-Riddle University (Fla.) after the doubles contests.  Embry-Riddle's #1 and #2 singles were both winning their matches, but victories at the #3 and #4 spots gave the Senators the 5-0 match victory.  AUM has not dropped an individual match the entire tournament, winning 5-0 each time.

Tomorrow's championship match is slated for 1 p.m. (Central) will be the third meeting in as many years for the two teams.  Auburn Montgomery won the national title in 2004, defeating APU 5-0 in the final match.  Azusa Pacific invoked revenge last year, ousting AUM 5-2 in the semifinals before winning its first national championship. 

Semifinal Results 

Azusa Pacific (26-1) def. Freed-Hardeman (23-4), 5-1 

Auburn Montgomery (23-1) def. Embry-Riddle (17-5), 5-0

Championship Match - Friday, May 19 

1 p.m. - Azusa Pacific (26-1) vs. Auburn Montgomery (23-1)

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