SWARTHMORE, Pa. - The top-seeded Swarthmore College men's tennis team knocked off #4 Haverford College, 5-0, in the Centennial Conference Semifinals on Thursday afternoon. The Garnet will host #2 Johns Hopkins in the championship match on Saturday.

Michael Melnikov was victorious in top doubles and singles action as he picked up a pair of wins for the Garnet. Swarthmore also received a No. 4 singles victory from Lalith Suresh to clinch an early victory after sweeping doubles action. 

DOUBLES
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Melnikov paired with Utham Koduri for a 8-3 victory in No. 1 singles action to pick up the first win for the Garnet. Moments later, Andres Fente and Max Pogorelov earned a win in No. 3 doubles, 8-4, to give Swarthmore 2-0 advantage. 

- Max Lindstrom and Rushil Patel battled hard in No. 2 doubles to complete the doubles sweep for Swarthmore. The pairing topped Haverford, 8[7]-7[5], in a back-and-forth battle, which saw them trailing early in the match. 

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SINGLES
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Lalith Suresh wrapped up his match first in No. 4 singles. The first-year bested his opponent, 6-2, 6-1, in a dominating showing to secure the team's fourth win of the afternoon. 

- Melnikov clinched the match for Swarthmore with a 6-4, 6-1 victory in No. 1 singles. The first-year ran into some resistance closing out the first set, but bounced back with a commanding second set victory. 

- Lindstrom was on a path to victory after taking the first set, 6-3, in No. 3 singles. The first-year was leading his opponent 5-1 in the second set before the Garnet clinched a team victory. 

- Fente claimed the first set of No. 6 singles with a 6-2 decision. He was also leading the second set 5-3 before Swarthmore clinched a team victory. 

- Charley Force returned to action as he competed in No. 2 singles. The junior dropped a highly-competitive opening set, 6-4, before bouncing back to take game one of set two before the match stopped. 

UP NEXT 
The Garnet (13-3) battle Johns Hopkins in the Centennial Conference Championship on Saturday afternoon on their home court.