SWARTHMORE, Pa. - The No. 8 Swarthmore College men's tennis team defended its Centennial Conference title with a 4-0 victory over No. 18 Haverford College. Swarthmore captured its third-straight conference championship, punching its ticket to the NCAA Tournament for the third-straight season. 

Max Lindstrom was named Tournament Most Valuable Player, securing a victory at No. 2 singles. The junior went a combined 3-0 on the week with a pair of singles wins. 

Lalith Suresh played the role of clincher for the third-straight season with a match-sealing win at No. 3 singles.  The junior has tallied the deciding point in all three of the program's Centennial Conference Championships. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
DOUBLES
- Michael Melnikov/ Utham Koduri won 6-2 at No. 1 singles. The doubles pairing is a combined 3-0 over their careers in the Centennial Championship finals. 

- Andres Fente/ Kai Chen triumphed 6-1 at No. 2 doubles. The duo went unbeaten during Swarthmore's tournament run, defeating Washington College by the same score, earlier in the week.


SINGLES
- Lindstrom made quick work of his challenger with a 6-1, 6-2 victory at No. 2 singles. The junior finished his match seconds before Melnikov to secure the team's first singles point. Lindstrom improved his career record to 3-0 in Centennial Championship singles action. 

- Melnikov captured his second win of the afternoon, triumphing 6-2, 6-2 in No. 1 singles. He also remained unbeaten during his career in the Centennial Championship, winning all three matches at No. 1 singles. 

- Suresh found himself in familiar territory, clinching the team's championship point for the third-straight year. The junior coasted to a 6-0 win in the opening set, before battling back for a 7-5 victory in the closing set. 

- Rishi Verma was on the path to clinching after defeating his opponent 6-3 in the opening set of No. 4 singles. The sophomore was winning his second set 3-2, before Suresh clinched a team victory. 

UP NEXT
The Garnet (15-5) will await their NCAA Tournament opponent and destination at Monday's selection show.