SWARTHMORE, Pa. – The No. 9 Swarthmore College men's tennis team dropped a hard-fought battle against No. 5 Denison University, 5-2, at the Mullan Tennis Center on Saturday.
 
The Garnet got out to a 1-0 lead after winning doubles. The Big Red earned a victory at second singles to even the match before Michael Melnikov put Swarthmore back in front with a triumph at first singles. However, Denison then won four straight matches to claim the win.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Utham Koduri and Melnikov secured the win at first doubles, 6-2, to open the match. Kai Chen and Andres Fente then clinched the doubles point for the Garnet with a 6-2 success at the second spot. The Big Red prevented a Swarthmore sweep with a 6-3 victory over Max Lindstrom and Rishi Verma at the third position.
 
- Denison evened the bout with a 6-2, 6-2 triumph over Lindstrom at the second flight. Melnikov gave the Garnet the upper hand again minutes later by wrapping up a 6-4, 7-5 success at first singles.
 
- The Big Red tied the match again with a 6-0, 7-6 (7-2) victory against Verma at the third spot. Dension then swept the back three matches to earn the win. All three matches went three sets. Dylan Hayes Gilbert suffered a 6-4, 2-6, 3-6 defeat at sixth singles, Aadhi Raja fell at the fifth position by a 7-5, 6-7 (3-7), 2-6 score, and Aamish Pal was dealt a 6-4, 3-6, 4-6 loss at the fourth flight.
 
UP NEXT
Swarthmore (2-3) travels to California for four matches over Spring Break, beginning on March 11 versus Bowdoin College.