ITHACA, N.Y.— The No. 13 regionally ranked Hobart College tennis team clipped No. 15 regionally ranked Vassar College, 5-4, on Saturday evening at Reis Tennis Center in Ithaca, New York. The Statesmen advance to the championship match for the first time since 2017 with an overall record of 16-4 and an 8-1 mark in conference play, while Vassar falls to 11-6 overall and 5-3 in the Liberty League.
Hobart took a 2-1 lead following doubles action. Senior Harry Lyu and Sophomore Troy Steiner defeated Russel Oh and Miles Sondergaard Jensen at the No. 2 spot, 8-2, for their fourth consecutive win.
First-year's Nick Fischer and Aidan Staunton beat Ethan Mantell and James Balon, 8-7, at the No. 3 position. Fischer and Staunton are now 17-3 in doubles action this season. As a team, Hobart is now 21-6 in Liberty League doubles matches.
The Statesmen secured the victory in singles action, winning three out of the six singles matches. No. 10 regionally ranked singles player, Sean Pesin, downed No. 19 regionally ranked, Fernando Bauermeister in straight sets, 6-2, 6-1, in the No. 1 position. Pesin is now 11-5 this season in singles matches.
At the No. 5 spot, Fischer topped Balon in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, for his 15th consecutive win. Lyu went 2-0 today to clinch the victory for the Statesmen, defeating Benjamin Almquist in thrilling fashion at the No. 2 spot, 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (0-7), 6-4.
UP NEXT
Hobart will be back in action tomorrow when they face No. 14 regionally ranked RPI in the Liberty League Championship Finals at Reis Tennis Center. RPI advanced to the finals after defeating Skidmore, 5-0, and is currently 12-6 overall and 6-2 in the Liberty League. First serve between the Statesmen and the Engineers is set for 1 p.m. following the Liberty League women's tennis championship match.