CLAREMONT, Calif. - Matthew Robinson came back from 5-1 in the second set to win in a tiebreaker for the clinching point, as the top-ranked Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men's tennis team defeated Trinity (Texas) 4-0 in the NCAA Regional Finals on Saturday at the Biszantz Family Tennis Center. 

With the win, CMS extends its winning streak to 30 matches, improving to 30-2 overall, and will get the chance to return to Biszantz next week for nationals, which get underway on Monday, May 19. Trinity sees its season end at 17-11 after advancing through to the regional final with a win over Pomona-Pitzer yesterday. 

Despite the 4-0 shutout win, CMS was pushed, with matches going to three sets on No. 4 and No. 6, while No. 5 saw Tarm Rojanasoonthon in a tight battle, leading 7-6, 5-5. Robinson's comeback win, when it seemed like he was destined for three sets, enabled the Stags to get the clinch before potential drama could ensue. 

Robinson was able to win five straight games to go ahead 6-5, before Ryan Warren, ranked No. 44 in the country, was able to get it to a tiebreaker. Robinson took the early lead in the tiebreaker, before Warren battled back to go ahead 4-3. With the score tied 5-5, Robinson had a key defensive get to force an error, and then won it on a backhand to take the tiebreaker 7-5 and win his match 6-2, 7-6. 

CMS took the doubles point with Caleb Settles and Brandon Vu earning a 6-3 win at No. 1, and Advik Mareedu and Josh Kim following with a 6-3 win at No. 2. Robinson and Warren Pham were up 5-4 on No. 3, needing two more points for a win when their match was halted. 

Pham was the first to earn a win in singles, taking a 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 2. Mareedu, who is undefeated against Division III competition this year (34-1 overall) was pushed by Jared Perry at No. 1 singles, but was able to get late breaks in both sets to win 6-4, 6-4 and put CMS up 3-0. 

Settles had battled back from a first set defeat to lead 3-6, 6-3, 3-2 at No. 6 when the match was halted, while Kim had split his two sets at No. 4, winning 6-4 in the first and falling in a tiebreaker in the second. 

CMS will make its 14th straight trip to nationals, since falling to UC Santa Cruz in 2009 (with a two-year gap due to the pandemic). The Stags were the national runner-up a year ago, and will hope to get one more win this season on their home courts.