Nikolai Parodi Captures UTR/ITA National Player of the Week Honors for CMS Men's Tennis

CLAREMONT, Calif. - Senior Nikolai Parodi earned the UTR Division III National Player of the Week honor from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, the organization announced today.

Parodi was honored for his performance at the ITA Indoor Nationals from Friday through Sunday, which was hosted by Gustavus Adolphus in Saint Peter, Minnesota. Parodi was 3-0 in singles as the Stags defeated No. 12 Case Western 6-3 and No. 4 Chicago 5-4, before dropping a tight match to No. 1 Emory in the championship 5-3. 

In the quarterfinals, Parodi had to battle back to get a three-set win against Case Western, winning the third set in a tiebreaker. After surviving that battle, he took his next two matches in straight sets, including a 6-0, 6-2 win against Emory in the finals when he led 6-0, 5-0 to finish just short of a perfect 6-0, 6-0 win against the top-ranked team in the nation. 

Parodi and doubles partner Ian Freer also came through with a tiebreaker win in doubles against Emory, giving Parodi a hand in two of the three team points. The match saw four of the six singles lines go to three sets, with Parodi and sophomore Nic Meister (7-5, 6-0 at No. 3) the only two to win in straight sets. 

CMS will be back in action on Friday when it opens SCIAC play with a road match against Cal Lutheran. The Stags will next be at home on Saturday, taking on Clark University at 4 p.m.