HOPEWELL, NJ – It was a hard-fought battle that came down to a final singles match as The College of New Jersey posted a narrow 5-4 win over Vassar College at the Hopewell Tennis Center. The loss moves the Brewers to 2-2 on the season in dual meet action.

Locked in a 4-4 tie, the match centered on the third flight in singles as Vassar sophomore Benjamin Almquist and Nikola Kilibarda squared-off. Almquist was a 7-5 winner in the first set, while Kilibarda bounced back for a 7-5 win in the second. The third set proved to be a wild one as both players battled hard to give their team the victory.

In the end, Kilibarda proved the victor as he saved three match points, winning a third-set tiebreaker to seal the singles win and team victory by a 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (7-2) margin.

The match opened with doubles action that saw the homestanding Lions take a 2-1 advantage. Matthew Michibata and Justin Wain combined at one to post and 8-2 victory over Vassar senior Mathew Yee and rookie Arnav Agostinho. From two, TCNJ's Nick Matkiwsky and Kilibarda earned an 8-5 win over Almquist and sophomore Jay Wong.

The Brewers earned the victory at three as senior Mihajlo Ivanovic and sophomore Arun Guruswamy powered their way to an 8-4 win against Derek Jordan and Jacob Quijano.

In singles action, Wong won a hard-fought 2-6, 7-5, 6-2 victory from one against Michibata. At two, Yee suffered a 1-6, 1-6 defeat to Wain, while at four, Agostinho fell to Adrian Tsui, 1-6, 0-6.

The Brewers shined in the fifth and sixth flights as Ivanovic prevailed from five, earning the 6-4, 6-2 win over Matkiwsky. From six, rookie James Balon was a 6-3, 6-1 winner over Dorian Makarski.

Vassar is right back in action on Sunday afternoon when it hosts Liberty League-rival Bard at the Walker Field House. Match time is set for 4pm.