Bears Advance to National Semifinals With 5-0 Victory Over No. 8 Carnegie Mellon

Oberlin, Ohio, May 25, 2010 – The No. 7 ranked Washington University in St. Louis men’s tennis team advanced to the semifinals for the third-consecutive season with a 5-0 victory over conference foe Carnegie Mellon University on Tuesday at the NCAA Division III Men’s Tennis Championship held at Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio.

Washington University (20-4) takes on No. 1 ranked Middlebury College on Wednesday at 2 p.m. (ET), with the winner advancing to the NCAA Division III national championship on Thursday, May 27, at 10 a.m. (ET).

The Bears jumped out to a commanding 3-0 lead after doubles play for the 12th time this season with three 8-4 victories. The No. 3 ranked doubles team of juniors Isaac Stein and Max Woods cruised to the first win of the day at first doubles, followed by a victory by senior Danny Levy and sophomore Cameron Chiang at third doubles. Levy and Chiang trailed 4-3 before reeling off five-straight games for the victory.

Leading 2-0, senior John Watts and freshman Kareem Farah completed the sweep with a victory at No. 2 doubles. Farah and Watts improved to 22-5 this season, including a 15-4 mark playing second doubles.

Woods continued his solid play at No. 4 singles, dispatching Duke Miller, 6-0, 6-3, to extend the lead to 4-0. He is 23-6 this season in singles, and has won nine of his last 10 matches. Watts then sealed the match for Washington U. with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Alex Nemerov at No. 1 singles. The victory for Watts was the 230th of his career.

Bear Notebook: This marks the fourth-straight season Washington U. has recorded 20 or more wins … This marks the third Final Four appearance for the men’s tennis team, and 45th for the Washington University Department of Athletics … Washington U. is 10-3 this season against nationally ranked teams.