The Panther men's tennis team returned from California with some impressive results, including wins over #1 UC-Santa Cruz and #5 Claremont. The Panthers were ranked #4 in the latest ITA ranking and should make a push towards the top slot this week.

The trip began with a 7-2 loss to NAIA Azusa Pacific, before earning an exhibition win over Glendale College. Against UCSC, the Panthers held a 2-1 lead after doubles play, dropping the #1 match by a score of 9-7. The advantage was 3-1 before senior Andrew Thomson (W. Bloomfield, Mich.) came from down 0-1 to pick up 6-0, 6-0 wins in the second and third sets. Senior Peter Odell (Scarsdale, N.Y.) followed with a 7-5, 6-4 win at #6 to give the Panthers the victory with a 5-1 lead. Middlebury captured the final three singles matches, with impressive wins at #1 by junior Andrew Peters (Baltimore, Md.) and #2 by senior Andrew Lee (Eden Prairie, Minn.).

Middlebury followed that up with a 7-2 win over Redlands before dropping a 7-2 decision to NAIA Vanguard. The Panthers topped Pomona-Pitzer 8-1, before earning a 7-2 victory over Cerritos College in an exhibition match.

The Panthers closed the trip with another big win, topping Claremont, 7-2. Leading 2-1 after doubles play, Middlebury followed with wins in five of six singles matches. Senior Conrad Olson (Waterloo, Belgium) sealed the match with a 6-2, 6-2 win in the #3 singles slot.