No. 9 Tartans Defeat Rochester to Open UAA Championship Play

(ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla.) – The ninth-ranked Carnegie Mellon University men's tennis team advanced to the semifinals of the University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship with a 7-2 victory over the University of Rochester Thursday, April 24 at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs, Florida.  With the win, the Tartans improve to 16-5 overall while the Yellowjackets move to 13-5.

Carnegie Mellon began the match taking two points in doubles play. The first point came by way of an 8-2 victory at No. 1 doubles from the tandem of juniors Christian Heaney-Secord (Westwood, Mass./Westwood) and Will Duncan (Newbury Park, Calif./Newbury Park).  The Tartans picked up their second point with an 8-4 win at No. 3 by sophomores Yuvraj Kumar (New Delhi, India/Millfield School) and Joel Lankford (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon).  As the No. 3 doubles was finishing, Rochester made the score 2-1 with a victory at No. 2 doubles heading into singles play.    

The Tartans recorded the first four points in singles to clinch the victory.  First, freshman Kiril Kirkov (Tampa, Fla./C. Leon King) won in straight sets, 6-1, 6-0 in the No. 4 spot before  sophomore Abhishek Alla (Hyderabad, India/IMG Pendleton School) won 6-0, 6-4 at No. 1 to make the score 4-1.

Moments after Alla's victory, Duncan sealed the Tartans' victory winning in straight sets as well, 6-4, 6-3 at No. 3. Carnegie Mellon then earned points at No. 5 and No. 6 singles, respectively.  Kumar won 6-3, 6-0 at No. 5 while junior Bryce Beisswanger (Los Angeles, Calif./Viewpoint School) won 4-6 6-1 1-0(2) at No. 6.

Carnegie Mellon will now face fourth-ranked Emory University Friday, April 25 at 2:00 p.m. in the semifinals.