Sillaste’s NCAA run comes to an end in the semifinals against Swarthmore’s Melnikov

CHATTANOOGA, TN. — Amherst’s Andreas Sillaste fell in the NCAA semifinals on Monday to Swarthmore’s Michael Melnikov, 6–2, 6–2, at Champions Club. Unlike the rainy earlier rounds, the match was played fully outdoors, and Melnikov’s strong serving and aggressive baseline game kept Sillaste from finding much rhythm. MATCH HIGHLIGHTS Melnikov set the tone early in the first set, earning the first break in the third game to move ahead 3–1. He then broke again at 4–2 to stretch the lead to 5–2, and that cushion was enough to take the opener 6–2. The second set followed a similar pattern. Melnikov…