ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. -- Armstrong Atlantic advanced to the NCAA Division II semifinals for a third consecutive season with a 5-1 win against Northwest Missouri State on Thursday evening at Sanlando Park.
The Pirates (20-6) advance to take on top-ranked and unbeaten West Florida -- 5-0 winners against Midwestern State -- in the semifinals at 1 p.m. Friday. Armstrong joins the women's team in the semifinals for the third consecutive season and is attempting to return to the national championship match, also for a third season in a row. Northwest Missouri State ends its season at 19-4 after advancing to the quarterfinals for the first time in program history.
Armstrong took a 2-1 lead heading into singles play as the duo of Ignacio Hernandez and Damian Okrutny defeated Amery Clews and Alvaro Riveros 8-5 at No. 2 doubles, while Luca Cerin and Pablo Gor downed Romain Boissinot and Julien Couronne 8-3 at No. 3 doubles. Northwest Missouri State's doubles point came at No. 1 doubles as Lluis Altimires and Sergio DeVilchez beat Jaan Kononov and Pedro Scocuglia 8-6.Kononov picked up a quick 6-0, 6-0 singles win against Boissinot at No. 2 singles to take a 3-1 lead. Scocuglia then notched a 6-1, 6-2 win against DeVilchez at No. 1 singles, with Gor notching a 6-2, 6-4 win against Altimires at No. 4 singles to clinch the semifinal berth.
Armstrong is one of three teams to have both the men's and women's teams in the semifinals in the 2014 NCAA championships, joining Hawaii Pacific and Barry. Saint Leo (women) and West Florida (men) are the fourth semifinals teams rounding out the field.
