MOBILE, ALA. -- In a rematch of last year's national championship match, the Fresno Pacific men's tennis team couldn't relive its 2009 magic.
The Sunbirds suffered a reversal of fortune, losing to Auburn Montgomery 5-2 in the NAIA championship match after defeating the Senators for the national title last year.
Fresno Pacific statrted slowly, losing two doubles sets to enter the singles down 1-2.
Max Adam's 6-3, 6-1 decision over Saad Benkirane was FPU's only singles win.
Auburn Montgomery clinched the title with victories over Sunbirds
Xavier Smith, Alex Gonzalez and
Denny Fafek.
"We didn't play well at all in No. 1 and 2 doubles," Castro said. "Singles, kind of the same thing. [AUM] was all over us us and a couple of our guys didn't respond very well.
"It was very disappointing. I felt we were the better team."
Castro praised Adam, who is undefeated at No. 5 singles for three years. "Max has been awesome. He always wins those big matches."
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MEN
Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) def. Fresno Pacific 5-2
DOUBLES: Saad Benkiranz/Michael Johnson (AUM) d. Xavier Smith/Alex Gonzalez, 8-4; Ayrton Wibowa/Bence Toth (AUM) d. Denny Fafek/Jose Hilla, 8-1; Martin Vaisse/Maxime Adam (FPU) d. Loic Didavi/Alberto Romea Gonzalez, 8-6
SINGLES: Alberto Romea Gonzalez (AUM) d. Xavier Smith, 6-2, 6-2; Sadio Doumbia (AUM) d. Alex Gonzalez, 6-1, 6-4; Martin Vaisse (FPU) vs.
Michael Johnson (AUM), 6-3, 6-7, DNF; Ayrton Wibowa (AUM) d. Denny Fafek, 6-2, 6-1; Maxime Adam (FPU) d. Saad Benkirane, 6-3, 6-1; Bence Toth (AUM)
vs. Jose Hilla (FPU), 7-5, 5-2 DNF.