FRANCISCAN CLINCHES 5-2 WIN OVER GROVE CITY IN NCAA TOURNAMENT

For just the second time in program history, Franciscan men's tennis advanced past the first round of the NCAA tournament, defeating Grove City 5-2. 

It was the second meeting between the Barons and the Wolverines this season as Grove City won 5-4 in the first matchup back in September. With a trip to the second round of the NCAA tournament on the line, the Barons were determined to redeem themselves in this rematch.

Sophomores John Gallagher and Jarek Sulak struggled at the start of their No. 1 doubles match, losing eight straight points to start before turning the match around to win 8-4 for the Barons first point.

Just a few minutes later, sophomore Connor Jooste and freshman Richard Watson dropped their No. 3 doubles match and Grove City tied the match at 1-1.

With seniors David Freytag and Zachary Quiza left on court No. 2, head coach Jeremy Ellis knew that taking a 2-1 lead heading into singles would be crucial to the Barons overall success. The seniors were battling the Wolverines, trading games back and forth until the Barons broke to go up 7-5. Grove City broke Quiza's serve to bring the match to 7-6 but the seniors broke back to win the match 8-6 and send Franciscan up 2-1 heading into singles play.

Sulak, Freytag and Watson had quick starts during singles play, jumping out to large leads on all three courts. Meanwhile, Jooste struggled at No. 5 singles, giving Grove City its second point and tied the match at 2-2.

Out of nowhere, Gallagher clinched Franciscan's third point with a 6-3, 6-2 win at No. 3 singles.

Sulak walked off the court next with a 6-4, 6-4 win at No. 2 singles to bring Franciscan within one point of the second round of the tournament.

After Sulak won his match, each of the three remaining Barons were within two games of winning the fifth point. Watson was already in his third set at that point after winning the first set 6-1 and losing the second set 6-3. Like the conference championship match against Penn St.-Behrend, the freshman clinched the fifth and deciding point once again, winning 6-3 in the third set. 

Franciscan advances to the second round of the tournament for the second time in school history. The first time was back in 2013 when the Barons beat Elizabethtown 5-0 but then fell to Kenyon 5-0 in the second round.

The Barons will take on host Case Western Reserve in the second round on Saturday, May 14, at 11 p.m.