SWARTHMORE, Pa. – The No. 8 Swarthmore College men's tennis team earned its first NCAA Tournament win since 2007 on Saturday, defeating No. 20 North Carolina Wesleyan University, 5-2, in the second round at Faulkner Courts. With the victory, the Garnet (22-1) also set a new program record for wins in a single season.
Swarthmore advances to Sunday's third round, where it will take on No. 6 Tufts University. The Jumbos topped No. 29 Christopher Newport University, 5-0, in the other second round contest on Saturday.
Michael Melnikov led the way for the Garnet as the lone player to pick up a singles and doubles win against the Battling Bishops.
Rishi Verma and
Lalith Suresh also won singles matches for Swarthmore.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- N.C. Wesleyan took the first lead of the day with an 8-4 win over
Andres Fente and
Rushil Patel at second doubles. The Garnet drew even when
Utham Koduri and Melnikov came out on top at first doubles, 8-6.
Max Lindstrom and
Winston Zhang gave Swarthmore a 2-1 edge with an 8-5 triumph at third doubles.
- Verma cruised past his opponent at fourth singles, 6-2, 6-1, to put the Garnet up two. At first singles, Melnikov gutted out a 7-3 tiebreak win in the opening set before riding the momentum to a 6-1 success in the second set to put Swarthmore one win away from victory.
- The Bishops got a point back with a 6-3, 6-2 win against Zhang in fifth singles to cut the deficit to two (4-2). However, Suresh provided the clinching point, just like last week's Centennial Championship, earning the win at sixth singles, 6-1, 6-4.
-
Kevin Jiang was on the verge of winning his match as well at third singles, as he was ahead, 7-5, 5-2, when Suresh recorded the deciding point.
Max Lindstrom was in the middle of a tight third set when play came to a halt.
UP NEXT
Swarthmore and Tufts battle for a spot in the Round of 16 on Sunday at 12 p.m.
