LA MIRADA --- Two members of the Biola men's tennis team are headed to the national stage as Guilherme Moraes Gracioli and Pol Masafret Hernandez prepare to compete in the inaugural ITA Division II Individual National Championships, beginning Wednesday, November 4, at the Tuscaloosa Tennis Center in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

The Eagles earned their spots after impressive performances at the ITA West Region Division II Championships, where they battled through a 64-player singles draw to meet in an all-Biola championship match. With both regional finalists receiving automatic qualification, Moraes Gracioli and Masafret Hernandez secured their places in the national tournament.

Both Eagles showed resilience throughout the single-elimination tournament, overcoming deficits in multiple matches to advance through the bracket.

Masafret Hernandez punched his ticket to the championship match with a three-set victory over Hawai'i Pacific's Seth Newman in the semifinals. After dropping the opening set, he rallied for a 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 win.

Moraes Gracioli followed a similar path, overcoming an opening-set loss against Point Loma's Marcos Alogo-Piqueras to secure a 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 semifinal victory.

The two Eagles then faced off for the West Region singles title. Moraes Gracioli claimed the opening set 6-3 before Masafret Hernandez responded with a 7-5 second-set win. Moraes Gracioli ultimately prevailed in the deciding set, 6-4, to claim the regional championship.

"I couldn't be more proud of the way these guys represented Biola tennis," stated head coach David Goodman. "The grit and determination they showed was inspirational. They were both down in multiple matches and found a way to grind out match after match."

This year's national championships mark a new opportunity for Division II tennis players to compete for an individual national title. Division II is the only NCAA division without an NCAA-sponsored singles and doubles championship, making the inaugural ITA event a significant addition to the collegiate tennis calendar.

The Eagles now turn their attention to the national championships, where each competitor is guaranteed at least three matches against Division II competition. The tournament runs November 4-8 at the Tuscaloosa Tennis Center.