SURPRISE, AZ (May 16, 2015) – The Hawai'i Pacific Men's Tennis Team nearly pulled off the comeback against Barry (26-0) in the NCAA Division II Championship match but fell 5-3 on Saturday afternoon. HPU ends the season at 24-1 and finishes as the national runner-up for the second year in a row.

For the second day in a row, and the fourth time all season, HPU fell behind after doubles play. The duo of Maik Burlage and Marko Lenz kept HPU in the match with an 8-4 win at second doubles.

Barry kept the momentum going in singles play, winning at the fifth and sixth positions to take a commanding 4-1 lead. The Sharks battled back when Burlage won 6-4, 6-0 at fourth singles. HPU made it 4-3 after #9 Thibaud Berland beat the #4 singles player in the nation 6-3, 5-7, 6-2. Lenz was about to tie the match, winning 5-3 in the third set, but it wasn't to be.

Jaume Martinez-Vich split the first two sets and was up 5-2 in the third when injury struck. In obvious pain, the Spaniard limped around the court. His opponent took the next five games as Martinez-Vich could hardly walk. Towards the end of the match, the outcome was not in doubt but the ITA All-American refused to retire.

HPU ends arguably the most successful season in program history. HPU was ranked #1 for most of the year and has the Coach of the Year, Rookie of the Year and likely four All-Americans.