Box Score GEORGETOWN, TX - The No. 9 Swarthmore College men's tennis team fell just short of upsetting No. 3 Case Western Reserve, 4-3, in its spring break finale on Friday morning. The match came down to a three-set battle at third singles, where the Spartans narrowly inched out a victory. 

Michael Melnikov was a two-time winner with victories at top singles and doubles. The senior teamed with Utham Koduri for a 6-2 triumph, and then won his singles matchup, 6-3, 6-2.

HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Garnet swept doubles play for a 1-0 lead. Koduri and Melnikov earned a 6-2 victory at the top spot followed quickly by a 6-3 win by Kai Chen and Andres Fente at the second position. Max Lindstrom and Winston Zhang completed the sweep with a 6-3 decision at third doubles.
 
- The Spartans briefly evened the match with a 6-0, 6-3 triumph at sixth singles but Melnikov promptly put Swarthmore back in front with a 6-3, 6-2 victory at the top flight.
 
- Lalith Suresh gave the Garnet a 3-1 advantage, battling to a 6-2, 6-3 win at fifth singles. However, CWRU recorded back-to-back three-set victories at the fourth and second spots to tie it up at three.
 
- With the team score tied at 3-3, the match came down to a lengthy third singles showdown. Nikola Galov fell in the opening set 7-6, but responded with a dramatic 7-6 [10-8] triumph in the second set. The rookie fought hard to capture the win for his squad, but dropped a tight 6-4 decision in the final set. 

UP NEXT
The Garnet (5-5) return home to face Gettysburg College on Saturday, March 21. The team will also travel to Muhlenberg College and Washington College on the same day.