Box Score The match started at 2:00 p.m. outside, and finished shortly after 6:30 p.m. on indoor courts. In between were hard fought matches and a rain delay that lasted one hour and 22 minutes.

For the John Carroll men's tennis team, the long afternoon yielded the desired result, a 5-3 victory over crosstown rival Baldwin Wallace in the semifinal round of the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament.

The victory puts the Blue Streaks in their fourth consecutive OAC championship match.

Box Score

The match commenced at the Lindner Family Tennis Center on outdoor courts, and the top seeded Blue Streaks found themselves in a 2-1 hole following doubles play. Only the number three team of Tyler Cole and Parker Holyn prevailed, defeating Roger Boyer and Michael Benotti by an 8-3 count.

JCU got out to a quick start in singles play, as five of the six matches featured first set wins by Blue Streak players. Andrew Siciliano was the first to finish, posting a 6-0 6-0 win at #4 singles. Scott Adsit then gave JCU the lead when he knocked off def. Alex Papke 6-2, 6-2.

Cole stepped up big once again, as the senior won his 98th career match by a 6-2 6-4 score over Jake Elbin. The Blue Streaks held a 4-2 lead, needing one more win to secure a berth in the final.

It would take a while to get that fifth point.

First, Baldwin Wallace picked up its first single point in the number one match when Dominic Polifrone posted a 6-6 6-2 vctory over Gustavo Garcia.

Then, both the #2 and #5 singles matches were extended by Yellow Jacket comebacks. Matt Harris pushed David Sinense to a third set at #2 by winning the second set in a  tiebreaker, while Michael Benotti rallied from a 6-1 loss to win the second set 6-4 against Adi Jha at #5.

Jha took a 5-4 lead in the third set and was leading 30-0 when rain halted play.

The match was then moved indoors to Queen City Racquet Club and resumed 82 minutes later. Jha needed just two serves -- both aces -- to clinch the victory for John Carroll, winning 6-1 4-6 6-4.

The Blue Streaks, now 11-8 overall, advance to tomorrow's OAC Championship match, where they will take on second-seeded University of Mount Union. John Carroll has won the last three tournament titles.