SWARTHMORE, Pa. - The No. 7 Swarthmore College men's tennis team defended its home court with a 6-1 victory over Haverford College on Friday. The Garnet remain perfect in the conference, knocking off the previously unbeaten Fords to claim sole possession of first place. 

Michael Melnikov won a pair of matches at the top position of singles and doubles, while Max Lindstrom was a winner at third doubles and second singles. Lindstrom has won eight of his previous 10 singles matches, while Melnikov has not lost a top singles match the entire season. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Garnet swept Haverford in doubles action to earn the opening point. Melnikov/ Utham Koduri won at top doubles with a 6-3 decision, while Kai Chen/ Andres Fente won 6-4 at the second position.  Lindstrom/ Winston Zhang then wrapped up the sweep with a 6-3 victory. 

- Melnikov won his second match of the evening, winning 6-2. 6-3 at top singles. Lindstrom then followed suit, becoming a two-time winner with a 6-3, 6-1 triumph at the second position. 

- Dylan Hayes Gilbert clinched with a hard-fought victory at fifth singles. The sophomore cruised to a 6-2 decision in the opening set, but fell 6-4 in the second stanza. Gilbert then bounced back with a 6-1 triumph to take the match.

- Nikola Galov added on for the Garnet, winning 6-4, 6-3 at fourth singles. Rishi Verma then won a barn burner at third singles, holding on for a wild three-set win. The junior took the opener 6-1, before dropping a 7-4 tiebreaker in the following stanza. Verma then bounced back with a 10-6 triumph to claim a decisive third set. 

UP NEXT
The Garnet (15-6, 6-0) return to action tomorrow against Christopher Newport and Dickinson at home.