Claremont, Calif. - Earning the program's first-ever NCAA semifinal team victory, the No. 2 Denison University knocked off No. 3 Tufts University 4-1 to advance to the program's first NCAA Championship match. The Big Red move to a historic 27-2 overall record, a new program record, and face No. 4 Case Western Reserve University on Thursday, May 22, at 8 p.m. ET for the NCAA Title.
Denison snapped Tufts three match win streak over the Big Red, after defeating the Jumbos 4-1 in the semifinals of the NCAA Men's Tennis Tournament. This is the first victory over Tufts in program history, and with this win Denison is knocking on the Title door. Head Coach David Schilling also notched his 107th win at Denison, making him the second winningest coach in Big Red history, surpassing Dick Scott's 16-season total of 106 wins.

The Big Red found themselves down for a moment in doubles play after No. 12 Alex Ganchev and Sacha Maes of Tufts defeated No. 16 Colin Gramley and Jacob Patterson 6-2. Avenging their teammates were Andreas Chapides and Nick Meyers on court three. The duo beat the Jumbo's Derin Acaroglu and Stav Mastrogamvrakis 6-4. Clinching the doubles point ahead of singles play was No. 2 Ethan Green and Kael Shah. The two traded points with No. 4 Vuk Vuksanovic and Javier Gonzalez, until they ultimately pulled away in the tiebreaker, beating the Jumbo's top doubles team 7-6 (7-4).

In singles play Anthony Payiavlas fell to Garv Bahl 6-2, 6-2 on court six, tying the two teams at one apiece. Taking back the lead for the Big Red was No. 20 Jacob Patterson who defeated Derin Acaroglu 6-3, 6-1 on court three. Denison's Andreas Chapides would secure the Big Red's third win of the evening after beating Lachie Macintosh 7-6 (7-5), 6-2. Clinching the semifinal win for Denison was No.4 Ethan Green, who defeated No. 2 Vuk Vuksanovic after beating him 6-4, 7-6 (8-6). The Big Red look to cap this historic year on Thursday against No. 4 Case Western Reserve, a team Denison has already seen twice so far this year.


#2 Denison 4, #3 Tufts 1
Singles competition
1. #4 Ethan Green (DENM) def. #2 Vuk Vuksanovic (TUFTS) 6-4, 7-6 (8-6)
2. #3 Kael Shah (DENM) vs. #17 Javier Gonzalez (TUFTS) 5-7, 6-3, 1-0, unfinished
3. #20 Jacob Patterson (DENM) def. #47 Derin Acaroglu (TUFTS) 6-3, 6-1
4. Andreas Chapides (DENM) def. Lachie Macintosh (TUFTS) 7-6 (7-5), 6-2
5. Nick Meyers (DENM) vs. Andrej Djokic (TUFTS) 3-6, 6-4, 1-2, unfinished
6. Garv Bahl (TUFTS) def. Anthony Payiavlas (DENM) 6-2, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. #2 Ethan Green/Kael Shah (DENM) def. #4 Vuk Vuksanovic/Javier Gonzalez (TUFTS) 7-6 (7-4)
2. #12 Alex Ganchev/Sacha Maes (TUFTS) def. #16 Colin Gramley/Jacob Patterson (DENM) 6-2
3. Andreas Chapides/Nick Meyers (DENM) def. Derin Acaroglu/Stav Mastrogamvrakis (TUFTS) 6-4

Match Notes:
Tufts 23-3; National ranking #3
Denison 27-2; National ranking #2
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (6,3,4,1)
NCAA Division III Semifinals
T-3:15 A-285