CLAREMONT, CA (March 13, 2017) – The Vassar College men's tennis team pulled the biggest upset of the season thus far on Monday, as the Brewers knocked off No. 31 Trinity College 5-4 in a thrilling victory from Claremont-Mudd-Scripts Tennis Courts. Vassar would turn around later in the day, falling to No. 10 Case Western Reserve University 9-0 in action from Pomona College.

Vassar 5, Trinity 4
The first match of the day was another thriller for the Vassar men's tennis team, but like the win a few weeks ago against the University of Rochester, it came down to the final match of the day featuring senior Alexander Luckmann.

The senior, playing at No. 6 singles, battled Jagger Tiefler of Trinity with the match tied at four, and Luckmann picked up the first set 6-4. In the second set, Luckman and Riefler went to a tiebreak, and Luckmann controlled the breaker to earn the victory 7-2, clinching the match for the Brewers.

Before that, Vassar took the lead going to singles action, winning two of the three pairs bouts. William Boyd and Rutendo Matingo earned an 8-4 win at No. 1 doubles to put the Bantams up 1-0 in the match, but freshmen pair Allen Sokolov and Jeremy Auh knocked off Riefler and Kyle Scheffers at No. 2 8-6 to pull the Brewers event at one.

Vassar would head into singles action thanks to a strong win from senior Nick Litsky and sophomore Jamie Anderson, who defeated Rex Glickman and Courtland Boyle 8-6. After that point, Trinity picked up the first win of singles play as Scheffers knocked off Anderson 6-2, 6-1 to deadlock the match at two wins apiece.

Trinity regained the match advantage thanks to a win at No. 2 singles, but Vassar quickly deadlocked the match once more on a win by Auh over Phillip Winser of Trinity with scores of 6-4, 6-1 at No. 5 singles. Vassar' No. 1 player, Nick Litsky, would earn a straight set win at the top flight with scores of 6-4, 6-3 to put VC to within one win of the team victory. Trinity didn't go away, as Boyd knocked off Sokolov at No. 2 singles to even the match once again, but Luckmann would play the hero once again for VC to pull the upset.

"Trinity was a great match," said head coach Alex Wong. "We knew that it was going to be a really tough match as they beat us last year and are nationally ranked. I was really happy at how we competed in the doubles and to win two out of three was a great start to the match. It took a team effort to win this match and this was a great way to start our spring break trip."

Vassar College 5, #31 Trinity College (CT) 4

Mar 13, 2017 at Claremont, CA (CMS Courts)

Singles competition
1. Nick Litsky (VCMT) def. Rutendo Matingo (TRINTYCT) 6-4, 6-3
2. William Boyd (TRINTYCT) def. Allen Sokolov (VCMT) 6-4, 6-3
3. Rex Glickman (TRINTYCT) def. Juan Felipe Laso (VCMT) 6-3, 7-6 (7-3)
4. Kyle Scheffers (TRINTYCT) def. Jamie Anderson (VCMT) 6-2, 6-1
5. Jeremy Auh (VCMT) def. Phillip Winser (TRINTYCT) 6-4, 6-1
6. Alexander Luckmann (VCMT) def. Jagger Riefler (TRINTYCT) 6-4, 7-6 (7-2)
 
Doubles competition
1. William Boyd/Rutendo Matingo (TRINTYCT) def. Alexander Luckmann/Juan Felipe Laso (VCMT) 8-4
2. Allen Sokolov/Jeremy Auh (VCMT) def. Jagger Riefler/Kyle Scheffers (TRINTYCT) 8-6
3. Nick Litsky/Jamie Anderson (VCMT) def. Rex Glickman/Courtland Boyle (TRINTYCT) 8-6
 
Match Notes
Trinity College (CT) 1-1; National ranking #31; Regional ranking #10
Vassar College 6-3
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (,4,2,5,1,3,6)
T-3:30 A-35

Case Western 9, Vassar 0
The Brewers took on the Spartans of Case Western Reserve University in the nightcap, and No. 10 CWRU proved strong in earning all nine wins Monday evening. Vassar's best chance to pick up a win in doubles came at No. 3, as Anderson and Nick Zuczek lost to Anthony Kanam and David Zakhodin of Case Western 8-5.

In singles, the Spartans earned all six matches in straight set, though Sokolov forced a tiebreak in the second set before falling to Siddharth Rajupet 6-3, 7-6 (5). "It was great to take on Case Western, a team that is traditionally one of the best in the nation," said Wong. "I am proud of the way we competed and we are looking forward to another tough opponent in Whittier on Wednesday."

#10 Case Western Reserve 9, Vassar College 0

Mar 13, 2017 at Pomona, CA (Pomona Courts)

Singles competition
1. James Fojtasek (CWRU) def. Nick Litsky (VCMT) 6-2, 6-4
2. Siddharth Rajupet (CWRU) def. Allen Sokolov (VCMT) 6-3, 7-6 (7-5)
3. Rob Stroup (CWRU) def. Juan Felipe Laso (VCMT) 6-0, 6-3
4. Sam Concannon (CWRU) def. Alexander Luckmann (VCMT) 6-4, 6-1
5. Kevin Dong (CWRU) def. Nick Lee (VCMT) 6-1, 6-3
6. Anthony Kanam (CWRU) def. Zamir Birnbach (VCMT) 6-0, 6-2
 
Doubles competition
1. John Benedetto/Fred Daum (CWRU) def. Juan Felipe Laso/Alexander Luckmann (VCMT) 8-4
2. Phillip Gruber/James Fojtasek (CWRU) def. Jeremy Auh/Allen Sokolov (VCMT) 8-1
3. Anthony Kanam/David Zakhodin (CWRU) def. Jamie Anderson/Nick Zuczek (VCMT) 8-5
 
Match Notes
Vassar College 6-4
Case Western Reserve 9-2; National ranking #10; Regional ranking #4
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (,3,6,4,5,1,2)
T-3:30 A-45