ROCKY MOUNT, NC – Johns Hopkins beat host and 36
th-ranked NC Wesleyan, 4-0, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament Saturday afternoon. The Blue Jays improve to 16-6 on the season, while the Bishops end their season at 15-9.
The Blue Jays took the doubles' point with wins at two and three and had a one-game lead on court one when the match was halted.
Mukundh Boopathi and
Pranav Gadiraju took the first win of the afternoon when they beat Albert Sitwell and Julian Valverde, 6-3, at two.
Dylan Blenkiron and
Brian Yi then gave Hopkins the 1-0 lead with a 6-4 win versus Brody Brice and Ben Russell at three.
Allen Gong and
Chakor Rajendra were up 5-4 at one when Blenkiron and Yi clinched the point.
Rajendra pushed Hopkins' lead to 2-0 with a 6-0, 6-3 win over Russell at three singles. Boopathi then beat Martin Cardestig 6-3, 6-4 at five singles and the Blue Jays needed just one more win.
Jason Li did the honors, winning 6-4, 6-3 over Farhaan Patrawala at four to send JHU to the NCAA Sweet 16.
Blenkiron was up a set and had a 5-3 lead in the second set when the match was ended. Gong also had a one set lead at one while Indrek Raudkivi had a one set lead at six for the home team when Li clinched the win.
This was the fifth meeting between Hopkins and NC Wesleyan in the NCAA Tournament. The Blue Jays are now 3-2 against the Bishops in those meetings.
Hopkins will now take on 11
th-ranked Emory on Sunday, May 10 at 12:00 pm. The winner will earn a spot in the NCAA Quarterfinals.
