Levine and Shekar Win Twice to Lead Tartans to Victory Against Saint Francis

(MONROEVILLE, Pa.) - The Carnegie Mellon University men's tennis team hosted Division I Saint Francis University on Saturday, February 10, defeating the Red Flash, 7-2. The Tartans are now 4-1 for the year.

Junior Daniel Levine (Highland Park, Ill. / Boca Prep International School) and freshman Kailas Shekar (Saratoga, Calif. / Saratoga) each won two matches for the Tartans while pairing up at first doubles to earn the first point of the match with a 6-4 win. After the Red Flash tied it with a win at second doubles, junior Chaz Downing (Newport Beach, Calif. / Corona Del Mar) and sophomore Nicholas Calzolano (Hinsdale, Ill. / Hinsdale Central) won 6-3 at third doubles to give the Tartans back the lead.

Levine and freshman Ray Boppana (Boxborough, Mass. / Acton Boxborough Regional) sandwiched wins in singles play with a loss for the Tartans at second singles to hold a 4-2 lead. Levine won at first singles, 7-5, 6-2, while Boppana won, 7-5, 6-1, at third singles.

Shekar then earned match point at fourth singles with a 6-2, 6-2 win, his second against a Division I player in two straight matches.

Also winning for the Tartans was freshman Joshua Pinckney (Atlanta, Ga. / The Westminster Schools) at sixth singles, 6-1, 6-1, and sophomore Robert Levin (Virginia Beach, Va. / Princess Anne) at fifth singles, 5-7, 6-1, 10-7.

The Tartans will next play at Youngstown State University on Friday, February 16 at 7:00 p.m. before going to the ITA National Team Indoor Championship in St. Peter, Minnesota, on February 23.