MOBILE, Ala. — For the second time in four years Campbellsville University men's tennis is National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) National Champions. The Tigers knocked off No. 30 Palm Beach Atlantic 5-3 in the NCCAA finals on Friday afternoon at the Mobile Tennis Center.

"We are super excited," said CU coach Kyle Caven. "When we start the year, we have a list of goals and making the NCCAA national tournament is one. We were able to put a lot of good wins together this year and played good tennis in this tournament to reach the 20-victory mark for the first time in my tenure."

Caven was personally recognized for his team's achievement by being named NCCAA men's tennis Coach of the Year.

Campbellsville went 5-0 on the week, rolling through Pool B by defeating Judson College and McMurry University 5-0, and also Point University, 6-0.

CU faced Indiana Wesleyan in the semifinals and still did not allow a point winning, 5-0.

The championship match started with two wins in doubles play. Sebastian Marot and Zach Baulch won 8-5 over Mark Heimberger and Nicholas Battistini. Also, Nathan Boniel and Parker Jones won 8-4 over Fernando Arroyo and Matt Leeds.

The lone doubles loss in the entire tournament for CU came off the racquets of Palm Beach Atlantic's Nicholas Uryson and Romain Nowacyz. That duo defeated CU's No. 1 team of Vladyslav Ladygin and Alejandro Soriano, 8-5.

"We put together a really good team effort," said Caven. "We set the tone with two strong doubles wins at the two and three spots."

In singles play, the Sailfish gained another two points with No. 25 Nicholas Uryson defeating No. 27 Ladygin, 6-3, 6-2. Fernando Arroyo picked up the final point for PBA in a 6-2, 6-4 defeat of Johan Fuzellier.

But that was as close as the Sailfish would get as the Tigers' Alejandro Soriano, who was named ITA East Region Player to Watch, defeated Romain Nowaczyk, 6-4, 6-0.

The ITA East Senior Player of the Year, Sebastian Marot, added to his wins with a victory over Nicholas Battistini, 6-2, 6-3.

Then CU clinched the title with a three-set victory from Parker Jones. The sophomore from Ogden, Utah came from behind to beat Matt Leeds 4-6, 6-2 and 6-1 to seal Campbellsville's national title banner.

"Congratulations to Coach Caven and the men's tennis program for winning the NCCAA national championship," said CU Director of Athletics Rusty Hollingsworth. "The competition in the NCCAA is very tough. Beating a very good NCAA Division II team to win the championship is not an easy task. This team has played very well all year and then went undefeated in the national tournament. This is a great accomplishment for these players, coaches and for Campbellsville University athletics."

With the win, Campbellsville improves its record to 20-5 and Palm Beach Atlantic falls to 21-4. The championship is the fourth NCCAA team title for Campbellsville University athletics, having won the 2009 NCCAA Division I volleyball title, the 2011 Football Victory Bowl, and the 2012 Men's Tennis championship.

"The guys were very emotional after the match and I could tell they really wanted this," said Caven. "It's a great way for the seniors to end their careers because we are on our way back tonight to make it to graduation tomorrow morning."

Campbellsville 5, Palm Beach Atlantic 3 (RESULTS)
DOUBLES
1. Nicholas Uryson/Romain Nowaczyk def. #20 Vladyslav Ladygin/Alejandro Soriano, 8-5
2. Sebastian Marot/Zach Baulch def. Mark Heimberger/Nicholas Battistini, 8-5
3. Nathan Boniel/Parker Jones def. Fernando Arroyo/Matt Leeds, 8-4

SINGLES
1. #25 Nicholas Uryson def. #27 Vladyslav Ladygin — 6-3, 6-2
2. #42 Alejandro Soriano def. Romain Nowaczyk — 6-4, 6-0
3. Mark Heimberger vs. Nathan Boniel — 6-4, 5-7, unfinished
4. #48 Sebastian Marot def. Nicholas Battistini —6-2, 6-3
5. Parker Jones def. Matt Leeds — 4-6, 6-2, 6-1
6. Fernando Arroyo def. Johan Fuzellier — 6-3, 6-4