WINONA LAKE, Ind. -- The Indiana Wesleyan University men's tennis team left Winona Lake, Indiana today with a critical 5-4 victory over Grace (Ind.) College in Crossroads League play.

The Lancers were one win better in the league a year ago than the Wildcats to finish in third place. But the Wildcats earned the big win this year and it came down to a one point match.

Indiana Wesleyan led 2-1 after doubles play with wins in the top two competitions. Kyle Johnson and Alex McMahan earned an 8-6 win in No. 1 play while Leonard Matthews and Brandon Dubuque won 8-2 in No. 2-doubles. Grace did gain one point in doubles as Brooks Ayers and Daniel Stoddard fell 8-1 in No. 3-doubles.

McMahan won 6-3, 6-4 in No. 4-singles while Ayers finished with a 6-1, 6-2 victory in No. 6-singles. Dubuque earned the fifth and final point that Indiana Wesleyan needed in No. 3 play. Dubuque earned the critical point by scores of 6-1, 7-5.

Grace countered with three singles wins as Johnson lost 3-6, 2-6 in No. 1-singles, Matthews dropped a 6-4, 6-7, 7-10 decision in No. 2-singles, and Stoddard lost 4-6, 4-6 in No. 5-singles. But the three singles wins for Grace was not enough as Indiana Wesleyan remained unbeaten with the 5-4 win.

Indiana Wesleyan improves to 4-0 this season and 3-0 in Crossroads League play. IWU is the first team in the league to hit the 3-0 mark.

The Wildcats return to the courts on Tuesday, September 11 with a home league match with Huntington (Ind.) University. The contest begins at 4 p.m. at the Sutter Tennis Center.