NCAA Tournament: Jags claim epic match over Grand Canyon, 5-4

AUGUSTA, Ga. - Augusta State senior Henrique Boturao rallied for a three-set victory at No. 2 singles early Friday morning to clinch a 5-4 Jaguar victory and the send ASU to its first-ever Final Four appearance at the NCAA Championships at EP Tom Sawyer State Park in Louisville, Ky.

With the victory, the Jaguars registered their school-record 19th victory of the season and advance to take on West Florida in the National Semifinals this afternoon at 2:00 p.m.

The Jaguars, who entered the postseason ranked No. 21 in the nation, claimed two of three doubles matches to grab a 2-1 lead. Team Victor (Cabellos and Guimaraes) won 8-4 at No. singles for ASU and the Jags' No. 3 team of Jan Labas and Jenner Stevenson also claimed at 8-4 victory.

Guimaraes then gave the Jags a 3-1 lead with a straight-sets win at No. 5 singles (6-1, 6-2). Labas put ASU in position to clinch the match with a 7-5, 7-5 victory at No. 4 singles.

Grand Canyon, ranked No. 9 the nation, countered with wins at No. 3 singles and No. 1 singles to force a 4-all tie before the match was suspended last night due to darkness.

Boturao won the first set, 7-6 (8-6), before GC's Frederic Schoelzel took the second set 6-1. In the third set, Boturao actually trailed 4-3 before responding with three straight games to take the set and seal the victory.

Boturao also won the clinching point in the Jags' 5-4 win over Drury in the Sweet 16 on Thursday.