SURPRISE, Ariz. – The 61^st-ranked MSU Denver men's tennis team suffered a 4-0 setback against No. 16 Azusa Pacific (Calif.) on Thursday in a first-round matchup at the Pacific West Conference Tournament.
 
Azusa Pacific won the doubles point, edging Andy Caruana and Carlos Pinedo 6-4 at No. 2. Brothers Billy and Jack McDemott were tied 4-4 in their No. 1 match with the 20^th-ranked duo of Leyton Bohren and Ryan Nuno when the doubles point was clinched.
 
Azusa Pacific completed singles wins over Jeanloup Auzias at No. 1 and Pinedo at No. 2, and Alejandro Jimenez was forced to retire in the second set of his match at No. 3. Auzias was defeated by the 10^th-ranked Nuno, and Pinedo fell to No. 49 Sam Sippel.
 
"Azusa deserved to win today," MSU Denver coach Josh Graetz said. "I thought they were more composed and executed better. Credit to them."
 
Things aren't any easier in the consolation bracket for the Roadrunners. They'll face 43^rd-ranked Biola (Calif.) in a 10 a.m. (Denver time) match at the Surprise Tennis & Racquet Club.
 
MSU Denver (13-4) is hopeful that a fifth-place finish could still land a berth in the four-team Division II West Regional. The Roadrunners would need to win Friday as well as in the fifth-place match Saturday.