POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (April 15, 2017) – The Vassar College men's tennis team hosted Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on Saturday afternoon at Josselyn Tennis Courts in Poughkeepsie, but dropped a tough 6-3 decision to the Engineers in Liberty League play.
 
Both teams came into the match tied for second in the Liberty League, and the match was an important one as the squads are both competing for a playoff spot. The day started off with an 8-4 win from Sebastian Castillo-Sanchez and Zeck Ebenfeld of RPI over freshman Allen Sokolov and Juan Felipe Laso at No. 2 doubles, giving the Engineers an early 1-0 lead.
 
The Brewers pulled even though thanks to a win from their No. 3 pair, as Nick Litsky and Nick Zuczek knocked off Winston Yu and Sundar Devakottai 8-5. The duo of Litsky and Zuczek has gone 5-2 since being tossed together back on March 17. In the final doubles match of the day, RPI's Tristan Wise and Xavier Oshinowo were able to get past senior Alexander Luckmann and freshman Jeremy Auh 8-3 to take a 2-1 lead heading into singles.
 
VC would even the match once again, this time thanks to Litsky picking up another victory, knocking off Castillo-Sanchez 6-0, 6-4 at No. 1 singles to make the score 2-2. The win for Litsky was his 16^th of the season, which is four more than the next closest Brewer in singles action. RPI once again regained the lead, an advantage it would keep for the rest of the contest, as Wise knocked off Laso 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 at No. 3 to make the score 3-2.
 
RPI moved to within one of clinching the match at No. 4 singles, as Ebenfeld defeated sophomore Jamie Anderson 6-1, 7-5 to put the Engineers up 4-2. The clinching point would come in the next finish, as Oshinowo came back from down a set against Sokolov to pick up a 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 win at No. 2.
 
Vassar's final win of the afternoon came from Auh, as the freshman registered a nice 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 win over Yu at No. 5. In the final match of the afternoon, Luckmann fell to Stephen Baxter of RPI in another three-setter, winning 7-5, 1-6, 6-4 to close the match.
 
With the loss, Vassar dropped to 9-7 overall and 2-2 in the Liberty League, while RPI moved to 9-5 and 4-1 in the conference. The Brewers are off until next Sunday for Senior Day, as Vassar will honor its three seniors (Litsky, Luckmann, Laso) prior to a match with St. Lawrence University at 1 p.m. on Josselyn Tennis Courts.
 
RPI 6, Vassar College 3
Apr 15, 2017 at Poughkeepsie, NY (Joss Courts)
Singles competition
1. Nick Litsky (VCMT) def. S. Castillo-Sanchez (RPI) 6-0, 6-4
2. Xavier Oshinowo (RPI) def. Allen Sokolov (VCMT) 3-6, 6-3, 6-1
3. Tristan Wise (RPI) def. Juan Felipe Laso (VCMT) 2-6, 6-2, 6-4
4. Zack Ebenfeld (RPI) def. Jamie Anderson (VCMT) 6-1, 7-5
5. Jeremy Auh (VCMT) def. Winston Yu (RPI) 6-4, 2-6, 6-3
6. Stephen Baxter (RPI) def. Alexander Luckmann (VCMT) 7-5, 1-6, 6-4
 
Doubles competition
1. Tristan Wise/Xavier Oshinowo (RPI) def. Alexander Luckmann/Jeremy Auh (VCMT) 8-3
2. S. Castillo-Sanchez/Zack Ebenfeld (RPI) def. Allen Sokolov/Juan Felipe Laso (VCMT) 8-4
3. Nick Litsky/Nick Zuczek (VCMT) def. Winston Yu/Sundar Devakottai (RPI) 8-5
 
Match Notes
RPI 9-5, 4-1 LL; Regional ranking #17
Vassar College 10-8, 3-2 LL; Regional ranking #16
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (1,3,4,2,5,6)
Official: Jerry Meagher T-4 hours A-25