WINONA LAKE, Ind. – Grace's men's tennis team used a dominant doubles' performance to top Taylor 6-3 on Tuesday in the quarterfinals of the Crossroads League Tournament.
The No. 4 seeded Lancers (6-4) won all three doubles' points to advance to a matchup with regular-season league champion Marian on Thursday. The semifinal contest will take place in Indianapolis.
Although the Trojans (5-7) dropped all three matches during doubles' competition, two of the matches were battles. Danila Kurkulin and Ethan Grove pulled out a 9-8 win at No. 1 doubles, and Adam Yoder and Caleb Yoder won 8-6 at No. 3. Uros Pajic and Gabe Vervynckt had the easiest route with an 8-1 victory at No. 2 doubles.
Grove went on to cruise 6-1, 6-2 at No. 3 singles, and Vervycnkt clinched the win by taking a 6-1, 6-4 decision at No. 5.
Adam Yoder had the final point for Grace at No. 6 singles with a three-set victory.
The Lancers are making their fifth straight appearance in the CL semifinals, producing a 2-2 record in that round over the past four years.
DOUBLES
1. Danila Kurkulin/Ethan Grove won 9-8
2. Uros Pajic/Gabe Vervynckt won 8-1
3. Adam Yoder/Caleb Yoder won 8-6
SINGLES
1. Kurkulin lost 3-6, 4-6
2. Pajic lost 6-7, 6-4, 0-1
3. Grove won 6-1, 6-2
4. Ricardo Bedon lost 6-2, 6-7, 0-1
5. Vervynckt won 6-1, 6-4
6. Adam Yoder won 4-6, 6-3, 1-0