#1 Azusa Pacific 273.165, #4 Hawai’i Pacific 260.400
 
WACO, Texas -- Top-seeded and unbeaten Azusa Pacific took all six events, including a 92.09-84.90 advantage in team event, and defeated Hawai’I Pacific (273.165-260.400) to earn a spot in Friday’s national championship meet at the Ferrell Center. Azusa Pacific will be making its second appearance in the NCATA National Championship Meet after falling to the University of Oregon in 2014 as the national championship host.
 
APU outscored Hawai’i Pacific in 18 of the 19 heats during the first five events on the afternoon, including a pair of 9.95 scores in compulsory toss and six-element tumbling to highlight the meet. The Cougars totaled seven scores of 9.80 or higher during the meet.
 
APU grabbed an early lead with a 38.000-36.625 advantage in the compulsory event, scoring a 9.95 in the compulsory toss and a 9.75 in compulsory pyramid to highlight the four heats.
 
In the acro event, the Cougars scored a 9.725 or higher in each of the three heats and added to its lead in the second event. APU scored an event-high 9.925 in the five-element acro.
 
Before halftime, Azusa Pacific also executed well in the pyramid event with a 9.90 in both the inversion and open heats, and a 9.775 in the synchronized heat.
 
Following halftime, a 9.650 in the 450 salto toss and a 9.600 in the open toss helped APU open the second half with nearly a two-point scoring advantage in the toss event (28.725-26.825).
 
Hawai’i Pacific outscored Azusa Pacific for the first time in the meet during the trio tumbling pass by a narrow margin of 9.125-9.100. However, a 9.95 in the six-element pass and a 9.875 in the aerial pass helped the Cougars hold a slim advantage in the final tumbling event score.
 
APU ended this afternoon’s meet with a wide margin of victory in team event by outscoring the Sharks, 92.09-84.90.
 
The fourth-ranked Sharks recorded seven scores of 9.50 or higher during the semifinal meet, including a meet-high 9.70 in a trio of heats (compulsory toss, six-element acro, inversion pyramid). HPU finishes the year with a 2-2 overall record.