ITHACA, NY (May 6, 2017) – The Vassar College men's tennis team returned to the Liberty League Tournament Saturday after missing the playoffs in 2016, and faced off against No. 25 Skidmore College in the conference tournament semifinals from Reis Tennis Center at Cornell University. The top-seeded Thoroughbreds took a 5-0 win Saturday, but the match was much closer than the score line indicated.

These two teams have been the last 12 Liberty League champions, and the battle among the top two squads in conference history was a good one. In doubles, the Vassar pairing of Nick Litsky and Nick Zuczek led 2-1 early in the match but Skidmore rallied to win three straight games including a break serve. The T-bred pairing of Nils Akesson and Lucas Pickering continued to pick up games, earning an 8-3 victory to make the score 2-0. Prior to that finish, Kai Yuen Leung and John Wynne topped Jeremy Auh and Alexander Luckmann at No. 1 singles 8-3.

At No. 2 doubles, the match was back and forth as the its stayed on serve through the first seven games but Skidmore chalked up a pair of breaks to take a 7-4 edge. Skidmore added another game for an 8-4 win as Steven Koulouris and Travis Leaf topped freshman Allen Sokolov and Juan Felipe Laso to help sweep doubles.

In singles, the Brewers played very well, as four three-set matches were in progress when the Thoroughbreds clinched the match at 5-0. Luckmann would fall 6-2, 6-2 at No. 6 to Ted Berkowitz to make the score 4-0. As that was happening, Litsky took a set off of Leung at No. 1 with a 6-3 victory. Laso also won his first set in a tiebreaker 7-6 (2), and sophomore Jamie Anderson topped Wynne 7-6 (1) in the first set to keep VC in it.

At No. 5 singles, Leaf topped Auh 6-2 in the first set, but the Vassar freshman powered back with a 6-3 win in the second set to send the match to a third and deciding set. The Brewers rally stayed alive until No. 2 singles finished, as Koulouris ended the match with a straight set victory over Sokolov 6-3, 6-4. Litsky and Leung were unfinished at No. 1 with a score of 3-6, 6-2, 4-3 in the third, while Laso was also unfinished at 3-2 in the third.

Anderson and Wynne also were unable to get their match done before the  clinching win by Skidmore, as it went down as a 6-7 (1), 6-4, 1-1 decision. Auh trailed 5-1 in the third set, but it too goes into the record books unfinished. With the win, Skidmore advanced to the Liberty League Championship match Sunday morning at 9 a.m. against Hobart College.

The Brewers finish the season with the region's No. 17 ranking, while posting a 11-10 record overall for the 2016-17 season, earning a victory over No. 31 Trinity College as well as going 5-1 at home this year.

#25 Skidmore 5, Vassar 0
May 06, 2017 at Ithaca, N.Y. (Reis Tennis Center)

Singles competition
1. Kai Yuen Leung (SKD) vs. Nick Litsky (VCMT) 3-6, 6-2, 4-3, unfinished
2. Steven Koulouris (SKD) def. Allen Sokolov (VCMT) 6-3, 6-4
3. Lucas Pickering (SKD) vs. Juan Felipe Laso (VCMT) 6-7 (2-7), 6-2, 3-2, unfinished
4. John Wynne (SKD) vs. Jamie Anderson (VCMT) 6-7 (1-7), 6-4, 1-1, unfinished
5. Travis Leaf (SKD) vs. Jeremy Auh (VCMT) 6-2, 3-6, 5-1, unfinished
6. Ted Berkowitz (SKD) def. Alexander Luckmann (VCMT) 6-2, 6-2
 
Doubles competition
1. Kai Yuen Leung/John Wynne (SKD) def. Jeremy Auh/Alexander Luckmann (VCMT) 8-3
2. Steven Koulouris/Travis Leaf (SKD) def. Allen Sokolov/Juan Felipe Laso (VCMT) 8-4
3. Nils Akesson/Lucas Pickering (SKD) def. Nick Litsky/Nick Zuczek (VCMT) 8-3
 
Match Notes
Vassar 11-10; Regional ranking #17
Skidmore 10-6; National ranking #25; Regional ranking #10
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (6,2)
Liberty League Tournament Semifinals: #1 Skidmore vs. #4 Vassar
Skidmore advances to championship match, Sunday at 9 a.m.
Official: Frank Thomas T-3:15 A-75