HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College Men's Tennis team (12-7), earned a 5-2 victory over Franklin & Marshall in the Centennial Conference First Round at the Bramall Courts on Tuesday.
Haverford, the fourth-seeded team in the CC tournament, fell behind 2-1 after doubles, but won the first four singles matches to reach a conclusion to stake a come-from-behind victory over the Diplomats (7-11) and advance to Thursday's Centennial Conference semifinals at top-seeded and No. 21 Swarthmore.
In doubles competition, the duo of Anthony Casale and Isaac Rockower from Franklin & Marshall won the third doubles match against Kirin Eicher and Abhinav Nallapareddy by an 8-4 final.
Pedro Norte and Gonzalo Gentou won the second doubles match against Adam Chow and Justin Minerva, prevailing in a tiebreaker 8-7 (7-5). However, Stefan Johnson and James McKenzie won the first doubles match against Luke Brodsky and Zac Ashtiani, also prevailing in the tiebreaker by an identical score of 8-7 (7-5), helping Haverford salvage some momentum heading into singles action.
In singles competition, Adam Chow defeated Casale quickly in straight sets, 6-2, 6-1 in the sixth singles match. Johnson won the first singles match against Ashtiani, by 6-2, 6-1 set scores, putting Haverford up 3-2 in the overall match score.
First-year Aiden Kim won at the third flight against Gentou, prevailing 7-5 and 6-2 to put Haverford on the brink of a clinch up 4-2 and in command. Justin Minerva won the fifth singles match against Norte, setting off a celebration as he clinched 6-4, 6-3, ending things as Haverford gathered on court five to celebrate a trip to the CC semis.
The fourth flight showdown between James McKenzie and Luke Brodsky remained unfinished with McKenzie having a set win in his pocket, taking a 6-3 win before the two competitors were deadlocked at 6-6 in the second set. Similarly, the second flight match between Andreas Wingert and Isaac Rockower also went unfinished, with Wingert leading 7-5, 4-3.
Haverford now gears up for the aforementioned semifinals, with play at Swarthmore slated for 4 p.m. on Thursday. The two sides have now met in the Centennial Conference semifinals in five consecutive CC tournaments.