WINONA LAKE, Ind. - Learning to play in the wind was key to victory on a very blustery afternoon at Miller Athletic Complex. Grace's men's tennis team was able to navigate the tricky conditions to advance to the Crossroads League final, dominating Indiana Wesleyan 5-0.

Both teams were slow out of the gate, but the Wildcats were the aggressors. No. 2 and No. 3 doubles favored the opposition early on, but Ramiro Candia and Nicolas Doria stormed back to take their match 6-4 despite being down 3-1 at the start. Ivan Antinori and Facundo Paredes locked up the doubles' point 6-2 at No. 1 doubles.

The first two points from the singles' docket were won with relative ease as Candia and Doria made quick work from the No. 5 and No. 6 positions. That put the Lancers (12-0) on the verge of making a return trip to the conference final.

Paredes battled at No. 1 and earned his point 6-4, 6-2 to push ahead 4-0 in the match.The final point came from Javier Gallego, who finished off his match with a well-placed volley at the net to seal the deal. 

David Sandi and Pablo Gregori both went unfinished as Grace had already clinched the match.

The Lancers will make their third-straight appearance in the tournament championship match to vie for the automatic bid to the NAIA tournament.

The match will pit Grace against Huntington on Saturday, Sept. 24 at Miller Athletic Complex. Action will get underway at 11 a.m.


DOUBLES

1. Paredes/Antinori def.Serwatka/Thixton, 6-2
2. Steiner/Gray def. Gallego/Gregori, 6-3
3. Candia/Doria def. Fuqua/Murphy, 6-4

SINGLES

1. Paredes def.Steiner, 6-4, 6-2
2. Sandi vs. Serwatka, DNF
3. Gallego def. Gray, 6-2, 6-4
4. Gregori vs. Thixton, DNF
5. Candia def.Fuqua, 6-1, 6-0
6. Doria def. Wayner, 6-0, 6-1