WINONA LAKE, Ind. - Grace's men's tennis team made another statement on Friday afternoon. This time knocking off No. 19 Cardinal Stritch 4-1 in a heated match at Miller Athletic Complex. 

The Lancers (10-0, 8-0 CL) played their fourth match in three days, but you wouldn't have known. The energy, enthusiasm and determination was palpable. 

Usual partners, Facundo Paredes and Ivan Antinori, kicked off doubles action with a 6-4 win. The Wolves would draw even, taking No. 3 doubles 7-5. The team point would then be secured by Javier Gallego and Pablo Gregori with a 6-3 victory. 

The first point from singles play tied the score at one. Ramiro Candia found himself in unfamiliar territory, dropping the opener. The next point to finish was No. 1 singles. Paredes showed his passion and emotion in a convincing win 6-1, 6-3. Ahead by one set, he found himself in a 3-0 hole, but he buckled down and took the next six games to finish off the point in straight sets.

Defending Crossroads League player of the week, Nicolas Doria, earned a hard-fought point from the No. 6 position 7-5, 6-2. The clinching point went to Gallego, who battled tough to win 6-3, 6-4 to put the match away.  

The final two points up for grabs went unfinished as the match was played to the clinching number of four points. Gregori was ahead by a set and David Sandi was on the verge of forcing a third-set tiebreaker in his match. 

Grace will turn its attention to the quarterfinals of the Crossroads League tournament, which is set to begin on Tuesday, September 20. They will face off against the No. 8 seed Cougars of St. Francis at 3 p.m.


DOUBLES

1. Paredes/Antinori def. Schaadt/Giorgio, 6-4
2. Gallego/Gregori def. Banov/Munoz, 6-3
3. Ezcurra/Gomez def. Candia/Doria, 7-5

SINGLES

1. Paredes def. Munoz, 6-1, 6-3
2. Gallego def. Giorgio, 6-3, 6-4
3. Gregori vs. Saavedra, DNF
4. Sandi vs. Banov, DNF
5. Schaadt def. Candia, 6-4, 6-1
6. Doria def. Hermanus, 7-5, 6-2