Stags Ready for SCIAC Tournament, Open Friday with Cal Lu
CLAREMONT, Calif. - The Stags are currently ranked No. 5 in the country and hold the top seed heading into the SCIAC Tournament after putting together an overall record of 26-3 in the regular season and a 7-0 mark in the SCIAC. CMS will host fourth-seeded Cal Lutheran on Friday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. at the Biszantz Family Tennis Center in the SCIAC Semifinals and would hold home-court advantage on Saturday afternoon should they advance to the Championship.
In the other semifinal, third-seeded Caltech and second-seeded Pomona-Pitzer will square-off across the street on Friday. The winner of that match will play the winner of CMS vs. Caltech at the higher seed's home court.
See below for a quick snapshot of the teams in the field:
No. 1 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Stags - 26-3, 7-0 SCIAC
The Stags completed a perfect regular season SCIAC schedule, dropping just three points all season to its league competition. CMS's No. 1 singles player Nikolai Parodi has been superb this season, registering an 18-3 overall record, and has lost just once to a conference opponent this season. A force in No. 1 doubles as well, Parodi and partner Julian Gordy have amassed a 17-5 record in doubles play this season and have defeated all of their SCIAC competition.
All-SCIAC honors
Nikolai Parodi - So. - First Team, SCIAC Athlete of the Year
Jack Katzman - Fr. - First Team
Oscar Burney - So. - First Team
Julian Gordy - Jr. - First Team
SCIAC Sportsmanship Team
No. 4 Cal Lutheran Kingsmen - 5-13, 3-4 SCIAC
The Kingsmen hold an overall record of just 5-13, but got into the SCIAC Tournament with wins over Chapman, Occidental, and Whittier in SCIAC play. Cal Lutheran's Yahn Gawrit has been featured primarily at the No. 1 singles slot for the Kingsmen this season and has amassed a record of 7-12. In doubles action, Gawrit and teammate Lucas Tilly have put together a record of 9-6 from the No. 1 doubles court.
All-SCIAC honors
Yahn Gawrit - Jr. - First Team
Lucas Tilly - Sr. - Second Team
When they met: The Stags and Kingsmen met on Apr. 14 at the Biszantz Family Tennis Center and CMS came away with a 9-0 sweep of Cal Lutheran behind impressive play across the boards. The Stags earned straight-set victories in five of the six singles matches with Matthew Jacobs leading the way with a 6-0, 6-0 win at No. 3 singles.
No. 2 Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens - 15-8, 6-1 SCIAC
The Sagehens earned the second-seed in the SCIAC Tournament with a 6-1 mark in the SCIAC this season. They currently hold the No. 11 slot in the National Rankings heading into the postseason. Leading the way for Pomona-Pitzer is freshman Jed Kronenberg who has logged a 25-6 record in No. 1 singles this season. In doubles, he and partner Kalyan Chadalavada are 6-7 this season.
All-SCIAC honors
Jed Kronenberg - Fr. - First Team, SCIAC Newcomer of the Year
Octave Bellet - So. - Second Team
Josh Gearou - Jr. - Second Team
Marko Mandic - Sr. - Second Team
When they met: The Stags commanded the Sagehens on Apr. 12 in the Sixth Street rivalry, claiming a 9-0 victory on the Biszantz Family Tennis courts. CMS swept through doubles play, and while there were a pair of three-set matches and a number of other close sets, CMS completed the clean sweep. Oscar Burney turned in the most dominate performance with a 6-1, 6-2 victory at No. 3 singles.
No. 3 Caltech Beavers - 11-6, 5-2 SCIAC
A gritty Caltech team enters the SCIAC Tournament as the third seed following an 11-6 overall record in the regular season and a 5-2 mark in the SCIAC. The Beavers are ranked 33rd in the country and are led by No. 1 singles player Varun Shanker, who holds a 14-10 record this season, while he and No. 1 doubles teammate James Wei went 18-8 in the regular season.
All-SCIAC honors
Varun Shanker - Fr. - First Team
James Wei - Fr. - Second Team
Mandy Gamble - SCIAC Coach of the Year
When they met: Caltech was one of two SCIAC teams to score a point against the Stags during SCIAC play this season, when they won the No. 5 singles match. Unfortunately for the Beavers, CMS earned the other eight points on the day to claim an 8-1 victory on Apr. 21. At the top singles spot, Nikolai Parodi had to battle his way through Varun Shanker, but claimed a thrilling 7-6 (5), 7-6 (7) victory.
Please note that portions of this article were borrowed from the SCIAC Men's Tennis Tournament Preview article.