By Josh Neuhart
Grace College Sports Information

MOBILE, Ala. – Grace’s men’s tennis team did not miss a beat while playing its first NAIA tournament match since 1988 on Tuesday.

Facundo Paredes celebrates a point for Grace at the NAIA Nationals. Photo provided

The No. 16 Lancers (26-5) defeated No. 21 Southeastern 4-2 at the Mobile Tennis Center.

Grace qualified for the NAIA National Championships for the second time in program history — and first time as a team since 1988.

The Lancers’ reward for winning on Tuesday is a matchup with the tournament favorite No. 1 Georgia Gwinnett, the six-time defending NAIA national champion.

Grace dominated the doubles’ point on Tuesday to claim the early lead. Fabricio Galvan and Ramiro Candia won 6-1 at No. 1 doubles, and Facundo Paredes and Ivan Antinori won 6-2 at No. 3.

Max Rozas and Mauricio Corty were primed to win at No. 2 doubles with a 5-3 lead before Grace clinched doubles.

The Fire (8-7) tied the match with a victory at No. 4 singles, but David Sandi put Grace back in front with a 6-2, 6-1 win at No. 3.

Southeastern again tied the score by winning at No. 5 singles, but the Lancers soon secured the victory at the top two singles’ courts.

Rozas battled to a straight sets win at No. 1 singles (6-3, 6-3), and Paredes earned the final point at No. 2 singles (6-1, 6-3).

Grace is playing in Mobile, Ala., for the second consecutive week. The Lancers won the NCCAA national championship last week at the Mobile Tennis Center, marking the first national title in program history.