Box Score

Grand Valley State - on the strength of a clean sweep in the three doubles contests - knocked off Rockhurst in the opening round of the NCAA Midwest Region Tournament on Saturday (Apr. 29) in Big Rapids, Mich. GVSU finished off the Hawks by winning a pair of singles matches for a 5-2 victory, as the Lakers advance to the regional championship match on Sunday (Apr. 30).

The match was played indoors due to inclement weather in Big Rapids. Sunday's regional final will also be played indoors and is slated for a 4:00 p.m. start time between GVSU and top-seed Ferris State, the host school.

With the victory, fourth-seeded Grand Valley State improves to 20-7 on the year, while fifth seed Rockhurst sees its season end with a 13-8 mark.

GVSU was dominant in the doubles competition, winning all three matchups against the Hawks. Zach Phillips and Alex van de Steenov took care of Oskar Unger and Jonas Stropus from RU at #1 doubles by an 8-1 score. Jack Heiniger and Sebastien Lescoulie won at #2 doubles over Daniel Chmielewski and Decho Valev by a closer 8-5 final. The #3 doubles contest was tight, but Nicholas Urban and Jack Geissler prevailed over Nicolas Riveros and Joe Ibarra, 9-8 (8-2).

The doubles sweep meant the Lakers needed to win just two of the six singles competitions to earn the match victory. While Rockhurst captured wins at #2 singles - Unger over Phillips (6-3, 6-1) - and #3 singles - Chmielewski over Geissler (6-1, 6-2), GVSU was victorious at #1 and #4 singles.

Lescoulie topped Stropus at #1 singles by a 6-3, 6-2 victory. Heiniger won at #4 singles over Valev in a 7-5, 6-1 final. Both van de Steenov (4-2) and Urban (1-0) were leading their matches when the contest ended.

Grand Valley State and Ferris State met once in the regular season in Allendale, as the Bulldogs knocked off GVSU with an 8-1 win.

This is the Lakers' ninth NCAA Tournament appearance since 2004 and their fourth consecutive trip to the postseason.