Mason, Ohio - NCWC's Robert Kjellberg and Sebastian Sikh fell just short in their bid for the program's first NCAA D-III National Championship on Saturday, dropping a three-set heartbreaker to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in the doubles title match.
Earlier in the day, the Bishop duo downed Chris Krimbill and Louis Stuerke of Case Western 6-3, 6-3 to earn a chance at the crown. Wesleyan's pair then faced Joe Dorn and Warren Wood of top-ranked National Champion C-M-S for the title.
In the opening set, Dorn/Wood twice broke serve to open an early 4-0 lead, eventually taking the set by a 6-3 score. The second set saw Kjellberg/Sikh race out to a 4-1 advantage, but C-M-S battled back to knot the score at 6-6 and force a tiebreak, which the Bishops won 7-5.
Tied at a set apiece, the two squads traded points over the first nine games of the decisive third, with C-M-S holding a slim 5-4 lead. With Kjellberg serving at deuce, Dorn/Wood earned the advantage on a Bishop miscue, setting up match point. Kjellberg/Sikh, however, stayed alive and eventually earn the advantage themselves. C-M-S fought back to deuce before earning a second championship point that Wesleyan again denied.
The third time, unfortunately, was the charm for Dorn/Wood as they lobbed Kjellberg's serve deep inside the baseline to secure the title. In doing so, Wood captured the elusive triple crown of men's tennis: the team championship, singles crown and doubles title.
The match marked the second National Championship appearance in program history for the Bishops... Kjellberg previously teamed with former Bishop Artsiom Prostak to reach the finals in 2013 but lost to Emory.
While Sikh is just beginning his Wesleyan career, Kjellberg ends his as one of the most decorated athletes in school history. The only Bishop to be named a four-time All-American in any sport, he graduates as the program's career-leader in career singles wins (87) and doubles victories (92). His jersey was retired on April 23rd, 2015 at the Department of Athletics Annual Awards Ceremony.