CMS Men's Tennis Responds in Singles for 5-2 Win over Trinity

NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. - The fifth-ranked Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men's tennis team fell behind 1-0 after doubles against No. 13 Trinity (Texas) at the ITA Indoor Nationals, but responded to sweep the top five singles positions to earn a 5-2 win in the quarterfinals on Friday.

With the win, the Stags, who are seeded second, advance to the quarterfinals to meet third-seeded Emory on Saturday at 11 a.m. (Pacific times). 

CMS had three straight-set wins to swing the momentum in singles, as Ian Freer dominated the second set for a 6-4, 6-0 win at No. 2. Advik Mareedu also had a convincing 6-4, 6-2 win at No. 1 singles, while Anirduh Gupta prevailed in a first-set tiebreaker and earned a 7-6(4), 6-3 win at No. 5. 

The Stags earned a pair of three-set wins as well, as Matthew Robinson responded after dropping a first-set tiebreaker to earn a 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-1 win to clinch the dual match at No. 3. Warren Pham won his first-set tiebreaker, then had to bounce back after dropping the second to earn a 7-6(4), 1-6, 6-2 win. Despite having two match points returning serve at 4-5, 30-40 in the final set, Tarm Rojanasoonthon lost a tough 0-6, 7-5, 7-5 decision at No. 6 singles.

CMS fell on all three doubles courts, but due to playing by Division I rules, the Stags only trailed 1-0 heading into singles. Pham and Mareedu came the closest at No. 2, but lost 7-6(5)

CMS and Emory are ranked No. 5 and No. 6 in the country, setting up an evenly-matched semifinal tomorrow. Top-ranked Case Western earned a narrow 4-3 win over Chicago and will meet WashU in the other semifinal. 

Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (5) vs. Trinity University (2)
February 23, 2024 at D3 ITA National Team Indoors - Nicholasville, KY. (Top Seed Tennis Club)

Doubles
1. Aashish Dhanani/Eric Liao (TRIN) def. Ian Freer/Matthew Robinson (CMS) 6-2
2. Robert Chang/Dalton Locke (TRIN) def. Advik Mareedu/Warren Pham (CMS) 7-6(5)
3. Ethan Flores/Conor Kaczmarczyk (TRIN) def. Josh Kim/Tarm Rojanasoonthon (CMS) 6-1

Singles
1. Advik Mareedu (CMS) def. Jared Perry (TRIN) 6-4, 6-2
2. Ian Freer (CMS) def. Rafael Candelas Ruiz (TRIN) 6-4, 6-0
3. Matthew Robinson (CMS) def. Robert Chang (TRIN) 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-1
4. Warren Pham (CMS) def. Connor Whittington (TRIN) 7-6(4), 1-6, 6-2
5. Anirudh Gupta (CMS) def. Eric Liao (TRIN) 7-6(4), 6-3
6. Conor Kaczmarczyk (TRIN) def. Tarm Rojanasoonthon (CMS) 0-6, 7-5, 7-5

Order of completion
Doubles: 1, 3, 2
Singles: 2, 1, 5, 3, 4, 6