MIDDLETOWN, Conn. - On Saturday afternoon, the newly third-ranked Tufts University men's tennis team beat NESCAC opponent and #27 nationally Wesleyan University 7-2, capturing their first spring victory against the Cardinals since 2014.
With this road victory, the Jumbos extend their unbeaten streak to eight matches and positioned them near the top of the NESCAC at 9-1 (4-1 in the conference). Wesleyan falls to 3-7 on the year (NESCAC 2-4) with their fourth straight loss.
The Jumbos took two out of three against Wesleyan on the doubles end. Junior duo Rishabh Sharda (pictured) and Josh Belandres won 8-5, and the pairing of graduate student Niko Hereford and freshman Derin Acaroglu scored an 8-2 win. Seniors Isaac Gorelik and Paris Pentousis dropped their match 8-2.
Tufts won five of six matches on the singles side. Sharda, ranked ninth in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's most recent Northeast individual rankings, cruised 6-1, 6-2 in the #2 spot. First-year Vuk Vuksanovic won a hard-fought three-setter 6-1, 3-6, 10-6 in the third spot. Tufts rolled in the fourth, fifth and sixth positions – winning each match in two sets. Pentousis gave up just two games in his fourth singles contest.
Tufts' next match is scheduled at home for Thursday, April 14 against Bates College, while Wesleyan will host Bates on Sunday, April 10.
Written by Steven Landry, Athletic Communications Student Assistant
