PHILADELPHIA – Swarthmore College's
Michael Melnikov and
Utham Koduri were both selected to the Philly-SIDA Academic All-Area Men's Tennis Team for the third time on Monday. In addition, Melnikov was chosen the Academic All-Area Performer of the Year for the third consecutive season. The team is voted on by the athletic communications offices of the institutions in the Philadelphia metropolitan area.
Melnikov was the Centennial Conference Player of the Year for the fourth straight season, becoming the first player in conference history to earn top honors in all four years of his career. He also was a first-team all-conference selection in singles for the fourth year in a row. A qualifier for both the NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships, Melnikov was the runner-up in the singles draw and earned All-America honors for the fourth straight season by winning his opening-round match at this fall's ITA Cup. He also met All-America standards by earning a top-eight seed at NCAAs and winning his opening-round draw.
Melnikov won the ITA Southeast Regional, which qualified him for the ITA Cup, and was chosen as the ITA Atlantic South Senior Player of the Year. The senior went 36-5 in singles (19-1 at No. 1) and 16-12 in doubles (11-9 at No. 1), the 36 wins being a program record. He was named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-America First Team for the second straight season.
Koduri was an All-Centennial First Team selection for the third time. The three-time All-American finished with an 18-12 record, including a 4-1 mark in conference play. Koduri competed at the NCAA Doubles Championship with Melnikov for the fourth year in a row.
The duo helped Swarthmore claim its fourth consecutive Centennial Conference title and advance to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament, the Garnet's first trip to the final eight since 2006.
Read more: Philly-SIDA Academic All-Area Men's Tennis Team
