From Case Western Reserve University Athletics

The Case Western Reserve University men's tennis team, ranked first in Division III, earned a spot in the University Athletic Association Championship match for the second-straight season with a 5-1 win over seventh-ranked Emory University in the semifinal round on Saturday afternoon at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs, Florida.

CWRU, the top-seeded team in the draw, ran its winning streak to 12 straight matches and improved to 27-4 overall this season, including a 22-0 record against Division III opponents. Emory, seeded fourth at the UAA Championship, fell to 15-5 on the season following the loss.

CWRU jumped out to an early 2-0 lead behind an 8-5 doubles win from senior James Hopper and junior Vishwa Aduru against Charlie James and Ryan Glanville at no. 1 doubles and an 8-4 victory from seniors Diego Maza and Chris Provenzano at no. 2 doubles against Andrew Esses and John Lasanajak. At third doubles, sophomore Ansh Shah and junior Sahil Dayal fell to Nolan Shah and Samuel Dean 8-6, marking the first doubles loss for the Spartans against a Division III opponent in nearly two months.

The Spartans wasted little time securing their spot in the UAA Championship match with three quick singles wins. Aduru was the first to finish, securing a flawless 6-0, 6-0 win against Shah at no. 2 singles. Hopper followed with a 6-1, 6-1 win against Esses at no. 1 singles, and sophomore Casey Hishinuma clinched the match with a 6-3, 6-0 win at sixth singles against Brandon Cohen.

At the time the match was stopped for decision, the Spartans led by a set on two of the other three singles courts. In the third singles match, senior Michael Sutanto led Dean Kamenev 6-1, 3-4, while at fourth singles, Shah won the first set 6-4 and was up 4-3 in the second set against James. At fifth singles, sophomore Ajay Mahenthiran dropped the first set 6-3, but was leading 4-1 in the second.