SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The No. 13 Swarthmore College men's tennis team was dealt its first loss of the season on Friday afternoon, falling 6-3 at No. 14 Trinity University (Texas). The defeat ended the Garnet's eight-match win streak.
 
Michael Melnikov and Rishi Verma picked up singles victories for Swarthmore. Melnikov and doubles partner Utham Koduri also earned a win.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Tigers cruised to an 8-1 victory at second doubles to take the early lead. Melnikov and Koduri then improved to 9-2 on the season with an 8-5 triumph at the top spot to even the match.
 
- Max Lindstrom and Aadhi Raja battled to a tiebreak at the third doubles flight but Trinity pulled out the win to take a 2-1 advantage. The Tigers then started singles action with victories at the fourth, sixth, and second positions, dropping just 10 total games over the three matches, to clinch the match.
 
- Rishi Verma earned a straight-sets win at fifth singles, 6-4, 6-4. The rookie has won six consecutive matches and is 9-2 on the year. Trinity then grabbed its final point at third singles.
 
- At first singles, Melnikov took the opening set, 6-4, before dropping the second, 6-3. Melnikov then captured the win for the fifth time in his last six matches with a 6-4 triumph in the decisive set.
 
UP NEXT
The Garnet (8-1) return home to host No. 29 University of Mary Washington on March 23.