San Antonio - The Trinity University sophomore doubles team of Bobby Cocanougher and Cory Kowal made a great run for the title at the NCAA Division III Men’s Tennis Championships, but fell short in the semifinals on Sunday.

Cocanougher, from Southlake, Texas (Southlake); and Kowal, from Austin, Texas (Anderson); lost 6-2, 7-6 (7-2) in the semis to Jamie Neely and Oscar Pena of Bowdoin College at Biszantz Family Tennis Center.

The Tiger players were down a set and 1-4, when they battled back to bring the second set to a tiebreak.

Cocanougher and Kowal were the first Trinity team to reach the NCAA semifinals since 2001, when Sloan Rush and Ed Rahn advanced to the championship match.

In Saturday’s quarterfinals, the Tigers took out top seeds Mike Burdakin and John Kauss of Gustavus Adolphus College 6-3, 6-2. Cocanougher and Kowal  came from behind to defeat Andrew Thompson and David Farah of Middlebury College 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 7-5 in Friday’s round of 16, the first match of doubles. The Trinity tandem was facing a loss as the Middlebury team was serving for the match in the second set.

Cocanougher and Kowal earned All-America honors last fall by winning the Intercollegiate Tennis Association regional doubles crown. The two Tigers completed the season with an overall record of 24-10 (9-3 in the fall, 13-6 in spring dual matches, 2-1 at the NCAAs).

Trinity men’s tennis is led by head coach Butch Newman, in his 23rd year at the Tigers helm.