Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men's tennis team fell behind 1-0 to Emory after doubles, but responded to sweep four singles decisions, with seniors Advik Mareedu and Warren Pham picking up the first and the fourth, to earn a 4-1 win on Tuesday afternoon in the NCAA Division III quarterfinals at the Champions Tennis Club.

With the win, CMS improves to 33-1 and advances through to the national semifinals tomorrow, when it will take on Case Western at 8 a.m. Pacific (11 a.m. local). 

The Stags earned a 7-5 win at No. 3 doubles with Anirudh Reddy and Henry Wilson picking up a key win, with Emory winning at No. 2 doubles. Caleb Settles and Mareedu rallied back from a 4-1 deficit to get the No. 1 match into a tiebreaker, but the Eagles were able to prevail and take the doubles point. 

Mareedu and Settles were able to get their revenge with singles wins, as Mareedu earned a quick 6-1, 6-1 win at No. 1 singles, defeating Ruilin Feng, who upset him in the ITA Cup singles championship in the fall to give Mareedu his first Division III loss since his sophomore season. 

Josh Kim put CMS ahead 2-1 with a 6-2, 6-4 win at No. 5 singles, and Settles came back from a 3-0 deficit in the second set for a 7-6, 6-4 win to put the Stags on the brink of a clinch.

The clinch came from Warren Pham at No. 2 singles, who won four straight tight games in the second set to earn a 7-6, 6-3 win, picking up deuce points to go ahead 4-3 and another one to win the match. He also won a deuce point to force the first set tiebreaker, and then won four straight points in the tiebreaker after being down 4-3 to win 7-4 and take a one-set lead. 

Sibi Raja was up a set 6-4 and down 5-4, 30-30 in the second set when his match was halted. Wilson had just started a third set at No. 3, bouncing back from falling in the first 6-4 to win the second set 6-3. 

CMS and Case Western met in last season's NCAA Semifinals when CMS hosted as the No. 1 seed, and the Spartans were able to pull off the upset. The winner this time will advance to Friday's national championship match.