Ljuboja and Muliawan Reach Finals of ITA’s in Doubles; Spero Joins Muiawan in Semifinals in Singles

Oct. 1 - (SALISBURY, Md.) - Carnegie Mellon men's tennis continues their success during the second day of the Wilson/ITA Men's Atlantic South Regional held at Salisbury (Md.) University. Two singles players have made the semifinals, while one doubles team moves into the championship match.

Freshmen Jon Spero (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shadyside Academy) and James Muliawan (Wyckoff, N.J./Ramapo) both advanced to the semifinal in singles competition. Spero recorded two impressive victories Sunday, as he won 6-2, 6-4 over Washington & Lee’s Tim Ross in the round of 16. Spero then had to face the second seeded Eddie Glidwell from Christopher Newport and came away with a 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 victory.

Muliawan turned in a remarkable outing as well winning both his matches in straight sets. He defeated Eric Caudill (6-2, 6-3) from Virginia Wesleyan before knocking off the fifth seed Evan Stiegal (6-1, 6-2) from Haverford to advance to the semifinals.

The doubles pair of freshman Nikola Ljuboja (Highland Park, Ill.) and Muliawan advanced to the finals. The tandem knocked off the fourth seeded team from Christopher Newport (8-4) in the quarterfinals and then faced the top seeded team of Hillen Smith and Joe Vasoontara from Johns Hopkins. Earlier in the day Tartans doubles team of senior Jordan Koslosky (Shavertown, Pa./Wyoming Seminary) and freshman Ravi Raghavan (Saratoga, Calif.) fell to Smith and Vasoontara 8-3, but that would be the only doubles team they would defeat from Carnegie Mellon, as Ljuboja and Muliawan defeated Smith and Vasoontara 9-8 (3) to find a spot in the championship.

Junior Andrew Clearfield (Harrisburg, Pa./Susquehanna) sophomore Yiran Liu (Rockville, Md./Wootton) both bowed in the round of 16 of singles play.

Monday’s action will begin at 8:00 a.m. with singles play followed by doubles.