Tennis Results: Sept. 14
Grace Men 6, Spring Arbor 1
IWU 7, Grace 0
The men’s tennis team dropped its first match of the season, but managed a split in doubleheader action. Grace (6-1, 5-1 CL) topped Spring Arbor 6-1, but fell to 10th-ranked Indiana Wesleyan 7-0.
The host Cougars captured the doubles point to take an early lead, but the Lancers came back to win all six singles matches to take the match from Spring Arbor. Three of the singles contests went to a third set, including a 7-5, 5-7, 10-8 win by David Sandi in the No. 1 spot. Fabricio Galvan came back to win 5-7, 6-2, 10-6 at No. 3 singles, while Ramiro Candia claimed a 3-6, 6-2, 10-2 win at No. 4.
Grace was unable to win a match against Indiana Wesleyan. Ivan Antinori and Sandi lost 6-3 at No. 1 doubles, with Max Rozas and Milan Savic falling by the same 6-3 score at No. 3. Galvan managed the closest singles contest, losing 6-4, 7-5 at the No. 3 position.
The Lancers face Mount Vernon Nazarene on Wednesday. After a pair of non-conference matches on Friday, the final regular-season league match will be at Marian on Saturday. Grace remains in second place in the Crossroads League.
Spring Arbor Women 4, Grace 3
IWU 7, Grace 0
The women’s tennis squad traveled north to play a Crossroads League doubleheader in Michigan and came away with pair of losses. Spring Arbor handed the Lancers a tough 4-3 setback in the opening match and highly-ranked Indiana Wesleyan swept to a 7-0 victory.
Grace (5-2, 4-2 CL) was forced to move several players up in the order due to its normal No. 2 player being away at a family funeral.
After dropping the doubles point, the Lancers needed to win four singles matches to defeat Spring Arbor. Lydia Ruegsegger won 6-3, 7-5 at No. 1 singles and Kiersten Martin won 6-2, 6-3 at No. 5. The match of the day happened at No. 2 singles where Morgan Mast came back to win 5-7, 6-3, 14-12. Those wins were not quite enough as the Cougars pulled out the other three matches, including a three-set victory at the No. 4 spot.
Grace was unable to put up much of a fight against Indiana Wesleyan, which finished last season ranked No. 4 in the NAIA. The best efforts happened at No. 3 doubles, where Mast and Gretchen Adams lost 6-3, and at No. 4 singles where Jenna Lewis eventually fell 6-4, 3-6, 6-10.
The Lancers will face off against Mount Vernon Nazarene on Wednesday and will complete the regular-season league schedule on Saturday at Marian.