The Spartans have cleared the first ground in their premier Intercollegiate Tennis Association National Division III Men’s Team Indoor Championship appearance. With their victory over Kenyon College on Friday evening, the men move on to face John Hopkins University in the second round.

The two teams came into the day evenly matched, but Case Western Reserve University had a score to settle after being bumped from the NCAA tournament by Kenyon to end last season. The work the Spartan team has been putting in in their doubles play paid off early with the men claiming a 2-1 league heading into singles play.

During the second portion of the competition, the teams traded matches with Case earning first blood followed by two matches that had Kenyon pulling even to bring the total score 3-3. It all came down to Derek Reinhold and Joshua Dughi’s matches which would determine the Spartans’ fate. In the end, Reinhold won the set in a tie break, sending Kenyon College to the consolation round and Case to the next level of play. With the win, the Spartans have ensured at least a fourth-place finish.