WINONA LAKE, Ind. - After opening the season 0-2 in Mid-Central College Conference play, the Marian University men's tennis team rattled off four wins in its last five matches, including a 5-4 win over Grace College on Monday, to secure third place in the MCC.

The Knights moved back to 6-6 on the season and 4-3 in MCC play and, by virtue of the head-to-head win over Grace, picked up a third-place finish for the 2009 campaign.

The win, however, did not come without a fight. The Knights took a 2-1 lead after the doubles competition.

Junior Brad Mustin (Lebanon, Ind./Lebanon) and freshman Andrew Voss (West Lafayette, Ind./West Lafayette) earned an 8-2 win at No. 2 doubles, while seniors Joe Nelson (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral) and Jeff Graf (Sunman, Ind./East Central) picked up an 8-5 win at No. 3 doubles. Junior Brice Fairchild (New Castle, Ind./Tri) and freshman Will Dixon (Jeffersonville, Ind./Our Lady of Providence) fell at No. 1 doubles, 2-8. The Knights had a 2-1 lead and needed a split in the singles competition.

Fairchild dropped his match at No. 1 singles, 4-6, 3-6, to allow the Lancers to tie the score, 2-2, but Voss gave a 3-2 lead back to the Knights with a 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 2 singles.

Mustin fell at No. 3 singles, 4-6, 2-6, to allow Grace to tie the score, 3-3, but Dixon earned a 7-5, 6-2 win at No. 4 singles to put the Knights within one point of the win, 4-3.

Senior Stedman Carmony (Arlington, Ind./Greenfield) fell at No. 5 singles, 4-6, 2-6, to put the Knights and Lancers into a 4-4 tie with just the No. 6 singles match remaining.

Freshman Kyle Luckiewicz (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) dropped the first set, 3-6, and it looked as if the Knights might fall. However, he exploded with a 6-2 win in the second set and finished his opponent off with a 6-1 third set victory to give the Knights the 5-4 win and third place in the conference.

The Knights head to the MCC Tournament on Thursday in Marion, Ind. Seedings and pairings will be released on Tuesday.