Men's Tennis Routs Stevens Tech in Season Opener, 8-1

SWARTHMORE, Pa. -  It was a near-perfect start to the 2012 season for the Swarthmore College men's tennis team (1-0), which easily defeated visiting Stevens Tech 8-1 on Saturday afternoon from the Mullan Indoor Tennis Center.

Swarthmore nearly swept the entire match, only falling at No. 1 doubles in a tiebreaker.

Sophomore Daniel Park and freshman Max Sacks were both double-winners on the day, teaming up to win at No. 3 doubles before earning convincing wins in singles play. Senior captains Zak Kelm and Max Bressman were victorious at No. 1 and No. 2 singles, while sophomore Preston Poon and freshman Irving Stone rounded out the singles winners. Sophomores Max Kaye and Anthony Collard paired up to win at No. 2 doubles.

Following its close loss at No. 1 doubles, the Garnet responded by dominating No. 2 and No. 3 doubles. The teams of Kaye/Collard (No. 2) and Sacks/Park (No. 3) each earned easy 8-0 wins to put the Garnet on top 2-1.

In singles play, it was complete domination, particularly in the lower flights. Kelm earned a 6-2, 6-4 win over Stevens' Chris Rosensteel at the No. 1 spot, while Bressman rallied to win at No. 2 over the Ducks' Shota Tasaki (7-6(4), 2-6, 6-3). At No. 3, first-year Sacks picked up a 6-1, 7-6 win over Stevens' Andy Riggs.

Swarthmore closed out the match with three convincing victories in the lower flights: Poon won at No. 4 6-2, 6-1, while Park (No. 5) and Stone (No. 6) both earned 6-0, 6-0 shutouts.

The Garnet return to the courts in California over Spring Break, facing Occidental and Kenyon on March 4.