Lancers claim Crossroads League title

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Grace's men's tennis team can't stop winning championships.

After winning NCCAA national titles in each of the past two seasons, the Lancers picked up another trophy with the 2022 Crossroads League regular season championship on Tuesday.

The Lancers did so courtesy of a 4-0 win over Goshen to start the final doubleheader of the regular season.

It marks Grace's first league title since 2012 and 2013 when the team won back-to-back championships.

Grace will be the No. 1 seed in next week's Crossroads League Tournament. The winner of the tourney receives the automatic bid to the NAIA National Championships during the spring.

The quarterfinals are set for Tuesday with the semifinals on Thursday and championship on Saturday. Grace will play at home for as long as they advance.

The Lancers made quick work of the Maple Leafs. The doubles' point was won thanks to Ivan Antinori and Facundo Paredes at No. 1 doubles, and Ramiro Candia and Nicolas Doria at No. 3.

Grace quickly won three singles' courts to clinch the match. Paredes was victorious 6-4, 6-0 at the top singles' court. Javier Gallego won 6-2, 6-4 at No. 2, and Pablo Gregori won 6-3, 6-4 at No. 3.

Grace ended the day with a dramatic 4-3 victory against host Marian to complete a perfect undefeated regular season in league play.

The Lancers claimed the doubles' point by winning all three courts. The duos of Antinori/Paredes (No. 1), Gallego/Gregori (No. 2) and Candia/Doria (No. 3) were all victors.

Grace raced further ahead with two quick singles' wins, putting the Lancers on the verge of victory. Gallego (No. 2) and Paredes (No. 1) won in straight sets, but the Knights clawed back with victories at No. 3, 4 and 5 singles to even the match.

The match boiled down to No. 6 singles. Francisco Margaria dropped the opening set to fall into an early hole. But the senior battled from that deficit, claiming the second set and winning the third-set tiebreaker to secure the match for the Lancers.

The Lancers will squeeze in two more home matches this week, including against Judson on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. and No. 19 Cardinal Stritch on Friday at 4 p.m.