GENEVA, NY (April 29, 2017) – The Vassar College men's tennis team led 4-2 late in the match, but Hobart College rallied late to pick up a 5-4 Liberty League victory over the Brewers Saturday in action from the Hobart and William Smith College Tennis Center. Hobart and Vassar, ranked No. 16 and No. 17 in the ITA Division III Regional Rankings, were just as even on the court Saturday.

Vassar (11-8, 4-2 Liberty) earned the early lead in the match, as the Brewers took No. 1 and No. 2 doubles and nearly swept the opening portion of the match. Freshman Allen Sokolov and senior Juan Felipe Laso made quick work of Michael Rusk and Danny Kot at No. 2 doubles, 8-2.

At No. 1 doubles, Vassar took a 1-0 lead as freshman Jeremy Auh and Alexander Luckmann played very well, knocking off Alan Dubrovsky and Jonah Salita 8-4. In the most competitive match of doubles, Vassar's third pairing of Nick Litsky and Nick Zuczek was barely topped by Jonathan Atwater and Harry Nichols 9-7.

In singles play, Litsky was stellar in picking up his 18^th win of the season with a 6-0, 6-0 whitewashing of Atwater at No. 1 singles. Litsky has won his last three singles matches, and is 9-1 in his last 10 outings. Laso doubled up his win total on the day with his 14^th win of the season, as he rallied for a 0-6, 6-1, 6-1 victory at No. 3 singles.

Dubrovsky started the Statesmen rally with a 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Sokolov at No. 2 singles. The win was Dubrovsky's ninth in a row and ties him with sophomore Jonathan Atwater for the team lead with 17 singles wins. Hobart junior Harry Nichols also pulled out a three set victory, knocking off Jamie Anderson 6-1, 2-6, 6-3. Senior Michael Rusk tied the match at 4-4 with a 7-5, 6-2 win at No. 6. Rusk has won four straight matches to improve to 5-3 on the year. Senior Danny Kot clinched the overall victory for Hobart (12-4, 4-1 Liberty) with a 6-4, 6-4 win at No. 6 over Zamir Birnbach.

With the loss, the Brewers will now serve as the No. 4 seed in the Liberty League Tournament, taking on top-seed and defending Liberty League champion Skidmore College. The four-team tournament will take place this Saturday and Sunday March 6-7 in Ithaca, NY, as the teams will converge on the Reis Tennis Center on the campus of Cornell University.

Hobart College 5, Vassar College 4

Apr 29, 2017 at Geneva, N.Y. (HWS Tennis Center)

Singles competition
1. Nick Litsky (VCMT) def. Jonathan Atwater (HOB) 6-0, 6-0
2. Alan Dubrovsky (HOB) def. Allen Sokolov (VCMT) 5-7, 6-4, 6-2
3. Juan Felipe Laso (VCMT) def. Jonah Salita (HOB) 0-6, 6-1, 6-1
4. Harry Nichols (HOB) def. Jamie Anderson (VCMT) 6-1, 2-6, 6-3
5. Michael Rusk (HOB) def. Jeremy Auh (VCMT) 7-5, 6-2
6. Danny Kot (HOB) def. Zamir Birnbach (VCMT) 6-4, 6-4
 
Doubles competition
1. Jeremy Auh/Alexander Luckmann (VCMT) def. Alan Dubrovsky/Jonah Salita (HOB) 8-4
2. Allen Sokolov/Juan Felipe Laso (VCMT) def. Michael Rusk/Danny Kot (HOB) 8-2
3. Harry Nichols/Jonathan Atwater (HOB) def. Nick Litsky/Nick Zuczek (VCMT) 9-7
 
Match Notes
Vassar College 11-8, 4-2 LL; Regional ranking #17
Hobart College 12-4, 4-1 LL; Regional ranking #16