MOBILE, Ala. – It took the NAIA No. 1 and overall one-seed to end the Fire's dreams of title. Georgia Gwinnett staved off the upset hungry Fire, 4-0, to advance to the title match.
Doubles was a grudge match, after the Grizzlies claimed the third flight, Southeastern's No. 37 Pedro De La Riva and Gustavo Rubio returned the favor with a 6-4 victory on flight two.
It was the NAIA No. 1 doubles team of Luis Francisco and Santiago Villaruel who clinched, overcoming a 5-4 deficit to defeat No. 29 Javier Gallego and Piero Fernandez 7-5.
Up 1-0, the Grizzlies added to their lead with a 6-3, 6-2 win on court six, and a 6-2, 6-2 win on court four.
Down 3-0, the Fire were in need of a court to stay alive, but they were denied as No. 55 Juan Carlos Garcia defeated Aristeidis Lafazanos, 6-1, 7-5.
The match clinched, the three remaining courts ceased play. No. 28 Piero Fernandez had taken a set off of No. 5 Villaruel, and No. 17 Gallego was striving for a third, down 6-3, 5-4 to No. 7 Francisco. And De La Riva had split sets with No. 64 Yerassyl Yerdilda, 6-4, 2-6, 1-0.
The Fire's season concludes marking back to back program best finishes with this years semifinal run.