BOX SCORE

BALTIMORE, Md. - In a battle for sole possession of first place in the Centennial Conference standings, the Swarthmore College men's tennis team fell by a 6-3 decision to sixth-ranked Johns Hopkins on Friday, Apr. 18 in Maryland.

After the Blue Jays earned points at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles, the Garnet got on the board when senior Anthony Collard and freshman Thomas Vernier teamed up for a 9-7 victory at the No. 2 doubles spot to make it 2-1 heading into singles play.

Johns Hopkins (12-4, CC 7-0), however, won three consecutive singles matches and clinched the victory when junior Erik Lim defeated Swarthmore senior Preston Poon at No. 5 singles by scores of 6-1 and 6-3. Freshman John Larkin won at No. 3 singles in straight sets by counts of 6-3, 6-2 before senior Max Kaye closed out the evening on a high note by earning a 6-1, 1-6, 6-4 victory at the No. 2 position.

Swarthmore (8-7, CC 5-1), which has only lost to nationally-ranked competition this spring, will look to clinch a spot in the Centennial Conference Tournament when it visits Dickinson tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m.