Springfield, Mo.— The Spire men opened with a strong double showing and carried that momentum through singles this afternoon, defeating Evangel 6-1. The Spires secured the team doubles point by winning two of three pairings, then added five of six singles matches to take control of the afternoon.

USM doubles point came from wins at the No. 2 and No. 3 spots. Korbin Priestley and Evan Maritz earned a 6-4 victory over Arjona and Leal in Doubles 2, while Mateo Dargel Argote and Carlos Grimaldi posted a 6-2 win against Ivie and Wilking in Doubles 3. Evangel's Gomez and Renella claimed the No. 1 doubles match 6-1 over Nils Dueppe and Nudem Koyuncu, but Saint Mary still came away with the early edge in the team score.

The Spires then took over in singles, winning five matches in straight sets. Carlos Grimaldi delivered a 6-2, 6-2 win in Singles 2, and Evan Maritz followed with a 6-0, 6-2 result in Singles 3. Korbin Priestley added a 6-2, 6-0 victory in Singles 4, while Nudem Koyuncu and Mateo Dargel Argote each turned in dominant 6-0, 6-0 performances at Singles 5 and 6.

The bottom of the lineup was especially decisive. Koyuncu won No. 5 singles 6-0, 6-0, and Dargel Argote matched that score at No. 6, giving Saint Mary two more straight-set points. Those performances helped the Spires finish with five singles wins overall and underscored the depth that defined the dual.

Evangel's only team point came at No. 1 singles, where Gomez outlasted Dueppe in three sets, 5-7, 6-3, 1-0. Even there, USM pushed the match deep after Dueppe took the opening set. Still, the Spires' consistency everywhere else on the card proved decisive, with four Saint Mary players, Priestley, Maritz, Grimaldi and Dargel Argote, contributing wins in both doubles and singles.

By the end of the afternoon, USM had turned a strong doubles start into a complete 6-1 result. The Spires' winning performances at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles, followed by singles victories in flights 2 through 6, told the story of a lineup that controlled most of the dual from the outset.

The Spires will be back in action this Saturday, April 11^th versus the McPherson College Bulldogs on USM's home court for the final time this season for Senior Day recognitions! Matches are set to begin at 1:00 p.m. in Leavenworth.