POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (February 17, 2018) – The Vassar College men's tennis team played with a tenacity and emotion that was inspiring to those in attendance, giving No. 24 Skidmore College everything it could handle and more Saturday. In the end though, a few key points went the way of the visitors and Skidmore picked up 6-3 win in Liberty League play from Walker Field House.
 
The Brewers (4-2, 3-1 Liberty League) fell behind after the finish of the first match at No. 2 doubles, as Jason Keye and Jack McClaren won the final six sets to earn an 8-3 win. VC battled back thanks to a pair of Nicks at No. 3 doubles, as Nicholas Demaria and Nick Zuczek picked up the double flip at 3-2 and used that to cruise to the 8-4 win to even the match at 1-1. The pair is still undefeated on the season at 3-0.
 
In a day of great matches, the best of the day came at No. 1 doubles as freshman Adam Krueger and sophomore Jeremy Auh battled Steven Koulouris and Travis Leaf on Court No. 3. The match was back-and-forth the entire way, staying on serve through 7-6 with Krueger going back to serve. VC would fight off two match points, and Krueger hammered two aces to keep things on serve.
 
After Skidmore went ahead 8-7, Vassar fended off six more match points through the next game but the Thoroughbreds would get the break it needed and sent the match into singles play with Skidmore leading 2-1 after claiming No. 1 doubles 9-7.
 
The Thoroughbreds added to their lead with the first outcome of singles, as Keye knocked off sophomore Dom Demeterfi 6-2, 6-2 in the No. 5 slot to make it a 3-1 Skidmore lead. Auh helped bring Vassar back with a gutty win, taking the first set 6-0 and rallied from behind in the second to earn a 7-5 victory to pull VC to within one at 3-2. Auh has now won his last three singles' matches, and is 5-2 on the season.
 
Skidmore moved to within one of the win with a victory at No. 1 singles, as Koulouris knocked off Krueger 6-3, 6-4. After the Skidmore No. 1 took the first set, Krueger led through the second set but wasn't able to push the match to a tie-breaker. Skidmore clinched the match moments later, as Ted Berkowitz was able to pick up a 6-3, 6-4 win over Jamie Anderson at No. 4 singles.
 
That didn't mean Vassar was done though, as the Brewers still looked to finish on a high note. Gandham played a great match at No. 2 singles, as he dropped the opening set in a tie-breaker, but was able to play some great tennis in the second set to send his match with Leaf into a super-breaker. In the final set, Gandham built a 4-1 lead, and fended off Leaf's serve-and-volley strategy to earn the 10-7 super-tiebreaker victory. It was Gandham's team-best seventh win of the season, and his third straight overall.
 
In the final match of the day, Demaria would also rally to force a super-tiebreaker, as he fell behind after a 7-5 defeat in the first set. The freshman picked up a break mid-way through the second set, and rode that to a second set 6-4 victory. In the super, Skidmore's Kevin Ha used some early momentum to take the match 7-5, 4-6, 10-5.

"A tough battle today against Skidmore," said head coach Alex Wong. "I am happy with the intensity and effort that the team put out today. We will look to learn from this match and will aim to have a good week of practice as we prepare for Clark and NYU next weekend. I am encouraged at the progress that we have made in just a few short weeks and I know that we will rebound and continue to work hard for our next challenges."
 
Vassar will have the week to prepare for Clark University, which will come to Walker Field House next Saturday at noon for a non-conference match.
 
Skidmore College 6, Vassar College 3
Feb 17, 2018 at Poughkeepsie, NY (Walker Fieldhouse)
Singles competition
1. Steven Koulouris (SKIDMORE) def. Adam Krueger (VCMT) 6-3, 6-4
2. David Gandham (VCMT) def. Travis Leaf (SKIDMORE) 6-7, 6-3, 10-7
3. Jeremy Auh (VCMT) def. Jack McClaren (SKIDMORE) 6-0, 7-5
4. Ted Berkowitz (SKIDMORE) def. Jamie Anderson (VCMT) 6-3, 6-4
5. Jason Keye (SKIDMORE) def. Dom Demeterfi (VCMT) 6-2, 6-2
6. Kevin Ha (SKIDMORE) def. Nicholas Demaria (VCMT) 7-5, 4-6, 10-5
 
Doubles competition
1. Steven Koulouris/Travis Leaf (SKIDMORE) def. Adam Krueger/Jeremy Auh (VCMT) 9-7
2. Jack McClaren/Jason Keye (SKIDMORE) def. David Gandham/Dom Demeterfi (VCMT) 8-3
3. Nicholas Demaria/Nick Zuczek (VCMT) def. Ted Berkowitz/Ben Maffa (SKIDMORE) 8-4
 
Match Notes
Skidmore College 3-0
Vassar College 4-2
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (5,3,1,4,2,6)
Official: Bill Zangle