CLAREMONT, Calif. — The No. 25 Haverford College men's tennis team (3-7) battled throughout the lineup against top-ranked No. 1 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (13-0) on Friday afternoon at the Biszantz Family Tennis Center on the campus of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. Despite the 5-2 defeat, the Fords remained competitive across several courts and were highlighted by strong singles victories from Caden Hsia and Stefan Johnson.
Doubles play began in second doubles, where Josh Kim and Sibi Raja of the Stags defeated Teodor Bortan and Stefan Johnson, 6–2, to give the hosts an early advantage. First doubles followed, as Caleb Settles and Advik Mareedu edged Marko Arboleda and Roberto Vazquez in a tightly contested 7–5 decision to clinch the coveted doubles point. The final doubles contest came in third doubles, where Anirudh Reddy and Brandon Vu outlasted Caden Hsia and Nikhil Lavu in a tiebreak, 7–6 (7–3), to complete the doubles sweep for the Stags.
Singles competition opened in first singles, where Josh Kim recorded a 6–0, 6–0 victory over Arboleda. The Scarlet and Black quickly found a response in sixth singles, as Hsia delivered a strong performance for Haverford, defeating Ethan Kim in straight sets, 6–2, 6–4, to put the Fords on the board and trim the hosts' lead to 2-1.
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps added points in second singles and fourth singles, as Henry Wilson topped Lavu, 6–1, 6–4, and Amrith Kodumuri defeated Bortan, 6–1, 6–3, securing the clinching point and putting the Stags ahead 4-1.
One of the most competitive matches of the afternoon came in fifth singles, where Johnson battled through three sets against Rohan Yarlagadda. After claiming the opening set 6–1, Johnson regrouped following a second-set setback and delivered a decisive third-set performance, securing a 6–1, 1–6, 6–2 victory to earn another point for the Scarlet and Black.
The final match to conclude the afternoon came in third singles, where Settles edged Vazquez in a tightly played contest, 6–3, 7–6, helping the Stags seal the 5-2 victory.
The match concludes the Spring Break portion of Haverford's schedule, as the Fords will return to Centennial Conference play in their next match, taking on Ursinus in Collegeville, Pa., on Saturday, March 21 at 11 a.m.
