As the #5 seed, there were no guarantees that the John Carroll men's tennis team would stretch its streak of consecutive Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament semifinal round appearances to seven.

But an inspired effort by the Blue Streaks secured yet another trip to Cincinnati

JCU stunned #4 seed Mount Union in the quarterfinals of the OAC Tourney Wednesday at the Hall of Fame Fitness Center in Canton, Ohio.

Box Score

The Streaks set the tone by winning two of the three doubles matches, a reversal of the regular season match up that saw the Purple Raiders take a 2-1 lead. Ryan Mullaney and Rico Certo improved to 6-1 on the year with an 8-4 win at #1 doubles, while Eric Grimaldi and Sean Graham were winners by the same score in the #3 match.

To clinch the match, the Blue Streaks got their three points by winning the first three matches that concluded. Certo smoked his opponent by a 6-0 6-0 score at #4, while Mullaney made quick work of his foe at #1 (6-4, 6-2).

That put the close out point in the hands of Graham, who outlasted Nick Fockler, 7-5, 5-7, 6-4, at #2 singles.

JCU advances to Cincinnati for the the sixth time in as many years (the OAC Tournament semifinals and final have been played there every year since 2007), and will face top seed and undefeated Baldwin-Wallace on Friday at 4:30 pm at the Lindner Family Center.