MARION, Ind. - Members of Grace's women's tennis team competed in the ITA Regional Championships Sept. 19-21. The midwest regional event was hosted by Indiana Wesleyan.

The Lancers made an appearance in the finals of the main draw for both singles and doubles on Saturday afternoon.

Jimena Ramirez earned the No. 3 overall seed in the tournament and advanced to her second-straight run to the finals. She moved through the opening rounds of the bracket with relative ease. She faced off against teammate, Alejandra Sandoval, in the quarters. In the semifinals, she knocked off the No. 2 seed 6-1, 6-1 to advance to the finals. The championship match was a battle. Each player picked up a set, forcing a tiebreaker. But the 10-7 scoreline, however, went to Munoz.

Alejandra Sandoval dispatched her first opponent 6-0, 6-0 before needing a third-set tiebreaker to advance through for the clash against Ramirez. 

Lydia Ruegsegger was ahead in her opening match 6-1 when her opponent was forced to retire from injury. She came up just short 4-6, 4-6 in the next round.

Geraldine Salinas picked up a win in the opener before bowing out in a tightly contested three-set match 1-6, 7-6(4), 5-10.

On the doubles courts, Ramirez and Sandoval came in as the top seed. They worked through the bracket, picking up four wins along the way. The pair advanced to the finals to face off against familiar foes Antezana and Munoz from IWU. This time, however, the Wildcat duo came out on top.

Ruegsegger and Salinas paired together, winning two matches before running into a snag in the third round.

Natalie Schoenherr and Molli Runestad dropped their first round matchup and moved into the consolation bracket. They picked up a pair of wins there, but fell in the semifinals.

The Lancers will resume conference play on Sept. 24 with a home match against Spring Arbor at the Don Cramer Tennis Courts. First serve is scheduled for 1 p.m.

SINGLES

MAIN DRAW

Ramirez def. Staal, 6-0, 6-0
Ramirez def. Nino, 6-0, 6-3
Ramirez def. Sandoval, 6-4, 6-3
Ramirez def. Bodo, 6-1, 6-1
Ramirez def. Orlova, 6-1, 6-1
Munoz def. Ramirez, 6-3, 2-6, 10-7

Sandoval def. Hasenour, 6-0, 6-0
Sandoval def. Ashurbekova, 3-6, 6-0, 10-6
Ramirez def. Sandoval, 6-4. 6-3

Ruegsegger def. Torres, 6-1, retired
Oliveria def. Ruegsegger, 6-4, 6-4

Salinas def. Schellenberg, 6-0, 6-1
Herrera def. Salinas, 6-1, 6-7(4), 10-5

DOUBLES

MAIN DRAW

Ramirez/Sandoval def. Dean/Dall, 8-2
Ramirez/Sandoval def. Trembach/De Jong, 
Ramirez/Sandoval def. Asherbekova/Orlova, 
Ramirez/Sandoval def. Barbosa/Inanniyazova, 8-4
Antezana/Munoz def. Ramirez/Sandoval, 6-4, 6-4

Ruegsegger/Salinas def. Herreros/Valliant, 8-6
Ruegsegger/Salinas def. Parr/Jarna
Barbosa/Inanniyazova def. Ruegsegger/Salinas

Dick/Oliveria def. Schoenherr/Runestad, 8-6
Schoenherr/Runestad def. Rinkenberger/Montaruli
Schoenherr/Runestad def. Herrera/Rich, 8-2
Hurtado/Schmitt def. Schoenherr/Runestad, 8-5