GENEVA, NY (April 19, 2009) – In what has become a rivalry that has defined the Liberty League Championship in each of the last four years, the Vassar men's tennis team fell to rival Skidmore, 5-4, in a match that came down to a third set tiebreaker at No. 4 singles. With the match tied at 4-4, Joshua Jasso lost an excruciating third set tiebreaker 7-6 (8-6), after fighting and clawing his way back into the tiebreaker, which he was able to even on three occasions, before dropping the last two points, played in championship fashion. 

“Josh was phenomenal today,” said head coach Ki Kroll. “He's been a competitor all year. With a match at 4-4 and needing one point, there's no one else I'd want to play the deciding match than him. He's a star in my book.” 

The last time Vassar and No. 20 nationally-ranked Skidmore played, on February 28, the Thoroughbreds won handedly 9-0. Sunday's Liberty League Championship match had a markedly different feel and tone. A huge crowd surrounded the courts at Hobart College, the host institution, as Vassar and Skidmore battled for a championship that came down to the last two points. “It's almost like a buzzer-beater in basketball,” Kroll explained. “The margin of winning and losing was that close. But I am proud of my team and their effort." 

The Brewers broke out to a 2-1 lead in doubles, getting inspired play from the No. 1 team of Michael Mattelson and Jeremy Rosen who won 9-7 and the No. 3 team of Jasso and Peter Ludlow who captured their set 9-7. The team of Max Willner and Greg Katz lost a nail-biter at No. 2 doubles, 9-7. 

Willner and Katz both rebounded in singles, however. Willner's dominant 6-4, 6-1 victory pushed the Brewers ahead 3-1 and Katz' equally impressive 6-4, 6-3 victory had Vassar on the brink of victory, 4-2. Skidmore was able to even the match with singles wins at the No. 5 and No. 6 positions and a hotly contested triumph at No. 1 singles, where Mattelson lost to Carl-Eric Girardin in three hard fought sets. 

“Today's match was more representative of how we can play,” said Kroll. “This was an intensely played match. We had chances and opportunities today, but the the guys showed what this program is capable of doing when we bring the right intensity and focus to the court. We were right in this match, from the start of doubles to the final two points of singles. It was that close.” 

The Brewers close out the regular season at 10-8. Skidmore improves to 15-2.

Doubles
1. Michael Mattelson/Jeremy Rosen (VAS) def. Carl-Eric Girardin/TJ David (SKD) 9-7
2. Lorenzo Cabrera/Spencer Cheng (SKD) def. Max Willner/Gregory Katz (VAS) 9-7
3. Joshua Jasso/Peter Ludlow (VAS) def. Luke Granger/Yahia Imam (SKD) 7-5 

Singles
1. Carl-Eric Girardin (SKD) def. Michael Mattelson (VAS) 6-1, 4-6, 6-2
2. Max Willner (VAS) def. Yahia Imam (SKD) 6-4, 6-1
3. Gregory Katz (VAS) def. Lorenzo Cabrera (SKD) 6-4, 6-3
4. Spencer Cheng (SKD) def. Joshua Jasso (VAS) 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(8-6)
5. Luke Granger (SKD) def. Shane Donahue (VAS) 6-4, 6-0 
6. Ethan Bond (SKID) def. Jeremy Rosen (VAS)  6-3, 6-0