#10 Tartans Topped by #9 Chicago in Opening Round of ITA National Championship

(ST. PETER, Minn.) - The 10th-ranked Carnegie Mellon University men's tennis team matched up against ninth-ranked University of Chicago in the opening round of the ITA National Team Indoor Championship hosted by Gustavus Adolphus College on Friday, February 23. THe Maroons were able to outlast the Tartans for a 6-3 win, advancing to 8-0 on the year while the Tartans move to 5-2.

Chicago held a 2-1 advantage at the close of doubles play with the pair at No. 3 doubles earning the point for the Tartans. Sophomore Nicholas Calzolano (Hinsdale, Ill. / Hinsdale Central) and junior Chaz Downing (Newport Beach, Calif. / Corona Del Mar) won that match 8-5.

In singles play, the Tartans earned points at the first and third positions with junior Daniel Levine (Highland Park, Ill. / Boca Prep International School) winning 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 at No. 1 singles against Nicolas Chua. Freshman Ray Boppana (Boxborough, Mass. / Acton Boxborough Regional) won his singles match when he topped Erik Kerrigan, 6-3, 7-6.

The match came down to fourth and fifth singles which both went to three sets but in the favor of Chicago.

The Tartans will next face either 16th-ranked Gustavus Adolphus or first-ranked Emory University in the consolation semifinals on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. CT.