Pomona-Pitzer awaits CMS in NCAA third round; trip to quarters on the line

The No. 1 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men’s tennis team is back in a familiar place after defeating UC Santa Cruz 5-0 on May 8 in the second round of the NCAA Division III Men’s Tennis Championships in Claremont. CMS’ win puts them in the regional final against Pomona-Pitzer who defeated Texas-Tyler 5-3. The NCAA third round match is scheduled to be held on Saturday, May 9 at CMS’ Biszantz Family Tennis Center at 2 p.m.

CMS and Pomona-Pitzer have faced off three times in 2015 and CMS has taken all three matches, the closest being a 6-3 win at Pomona-Pitzer.

For the second time in 2015, CMS swept Santa Cruz, having defeated them 9-0 in Claremont back in March. On Friday, CMS moved out to a 3-0 lead in doubles behind a comeback win in No. 2 doubles by Skyler Butts and Daniel Morkovine who defeated Adrian Sirovica and Chetan Munugala 9-7. Butts and Morkovine held a 4-3 advantage only to see Santa Cruz’s doubles team go ahead 6-4. Butts and Morkovine took the lead back 7-6 and after a 7-7 tie, went on to win 9-7. CMS’ first doubles point came in No. 3 doubles with Nikolas Marino and Glenn Hull getting the 8-6 win. Warren Wood and Joe Dorn added an 8-4 win in No. 1 doubles.

Then in singles, the lower third of CMS’ lineup sealed the win as Hull (6-0, 6-0) at No. 6 singles and Morkovine (6-3, 6-1) at No. 5 singles earned victories. Morkovine defeated Derek Levchenko for the clincher. On the top four courts, CMS led in each match when play ended.

CMS is in search of its sixth-straight trip to at least the NCAA Division III quarterfinals. 

Complete Results (PDF)