By Tim Glon

MASON — Ryan Paul rallied from a set down to win at No. 3 singles and lift Ohio Northern to a come-from-behind 5-4 victory over Baldwin-Wallace in the championship match of Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament Saturday afternoon at the Lindner Tennis Center.

The top-seeded Polar Bears improve to 17-4, while the second-seeded Yellow Jackets end their season at 20-5.

Ohio Northern earns the league's automatic bid to the NCAA III Championships next weekend. Sites, dates and opponents will be determined on Tuesday.

The tournament title is the second consecutive for ONU.

This marks the second time in a week that Paul has come from behind to win the deciding match at No. 3 singles in a 5-4 Polar Bear victory that won a conference title.

Last week, Paul rallied to beat Mt. Union's Brian Widdoes 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(4) to snap a 4-4 tie in the regular season finale and give ONU the OAC Regular Season title outright.

On Saturday, Paul dropped the first set 6-2 to Jim Kucera, but came back to win the second set 6-4.

Kucera began to suffer from cramping in his legs at the end of the second set and was noticeably hobbled during the third set.

Paul won the third set 6-2 despite the gutsy performance by Kucera, who had to be helped off the court after the match to a standing ovation.

Trailing 2-1 after doubles play, Bart Schenck posted a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Tyler Adams at No. 2 singles to even the match at 2-2.

BW then won at Nos. 5 and 1 singles to go up 4-2, but Todd Anderson defeated Andy Redd 6-2, 6-3 at No. 4 singles to pull the Polar Bears within 4-3.

Jeff Carter then tied the match at 4-4 with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Sam Burris at the No. 6 singles spot, setting up the third-set showdown between Paul and Kucera.

"This is a special group of players, and they deserve all the credit." Head coach Glenn Scheutzow said. "My hats off to BW, Brian has a great program. We work very hard during the course of the year, these guys deserve evry win."

Senior Thomas Major and freshman Jeff Carter posted the Polar Bears' doubles victory, topping Jim Kucera and Zach Long 9-7 at the No. 3 spot.

The start of the contest was delayed 55 minutes because of rain.

Northern's appearance in the finals is it's sixth in the seven-year history of the tournament in its current format. ONU has won the tournament title in 2008, 2007 and 2003.