Release courtesy of Swarthmore Athletic Communications

SWARTHMORE, Pa. - The Swarthmore College men's tennis team put an end to Johns Hopkins' 14-year championship reign as the Garnet captured their first Centennial Conference Championship in program history on Saturday afternoon. The victory marked the first time in program history that men's tennis defeated Hopkins twice in one season. 

Swarthmore also punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament where they will make their first appearance as a team since 2007. 

Michael Melnikov was awarded Tournament Most Valuable Player after picking up a pair of victories in singles and doubles action against Johns Hopkins. The first-year standout was undefeated in singles action all spring and remained unbeaten in top doubles against Centennial opponents. 

After falling behind 2-1 in doubles action, the Garnet ran through singles play as they picked up four-straight victories to clinch the championship. Max Lindstrom made quick work of his opponent in No. 3 singles as he evened the team score for Swarthmore. Melnikov then put the Garnet ahead with a No. 1 singles win, while Charley Force was victorious in a thrilling No. 2 singles showdown.

Lalith Suresh sealed the victory for Swarthmore with a clinching match in No. 4 singles. The first-year took the second set in convincing fashion as he picked up the fifth and final victory for Swarthmore. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
DOUBLES
- The Garnet dug themselves into an early hole after dropping two tightly-contested doubles matches to open the afternoon. Max Pogorelov and Andres Fente battled the entire way in a 8-6 defeat in No. 3 doubles. Both pairings went back-and-forth the entire match with neither team leading by two games until the final two games. Lindstrom and Rushil Patel also fell in No. 2 doubles, 8-4. The Garnet kept things close early in the match, before the Blue Jays took four-straight games to gain control.

- Melnikov and Utham Koduri picked up a pivotal 8-7 victory in No. 1 doubles to take a crucial match for the Garnet. Swarthmore set the tone early in the tiebreaker by taking the first three points as they controlled momentum for a 6-3 advantage. The Swarthmore pairing won their 10th straight top doubles match as they went undefeated this season versus conference opponents.

SINGLES
- Lindstrom wrapped up No. 3 singles quickly as he cruised to a 6-0, 6-3 victory for Swarthmore. The first-year bounced back in a major way after dropping his regular season match against the same opponent earlier in the year. After rolling through the first set, Lindstrom faced some adversity in the second set as he fell behind 3-2. However, Lindstrom rallied for four-straight wins as he claimed a match-tying victory for Swarthmore. 

- Melnikov took care of business in No. 1 singles, 6-2, 6-4, to remain undefeated in the spring. The first-year met little resistance in the opening set, before closing out the victory in a tighter closing set. Melnikov did not trail on the scoreboard at any point during his match.

- Force battled to an intense 7-6, 6-4, victory in an outstanding No. 2 singles showdown. The junior controlled momentum early in the first set, before Hopkins evened things up with a late surge. Both opponents traded points in the tiebreaker, before Force locked in for four-straight points to claim a 6-2 tiebreaker win. The junior had to battle in another tight second set, but leaned on his early lead as he closed out the victory. 

- Suresh was the man of the hour as he secured the clinching victory for Swarthmore with a 6-4, 6-2 decision in No. 4 singles. After dropping the first two games of the second set, the first-year rallied off six-straight wins to take the closing set. Suresh earned his second victory of the year against Hopkins, while beating two different opponents.