Results

GENEVA, N.Y.—The No. 3 seed Hobart College tennis team was edged 5-3 by No. 2 Vassar in a Liberty League Tournament semifinal played today on the indoor courts in Bristol Field House at the Caird Center for Sports and Recreation.  The Brewers advance to the championship match against top-seeded Skidmore tomorrow, April 30 at 10 a.m.

The Thoroughbreds defeated No. 4 RPI 5-0 in the other semifinal played this morning. Vassar, who is ranked No. 11 in the Northeast Region by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, is now 14-9 overall this season.

Vassar came out of doubles play ahead 2-1. Junior Alex James and senior Matt Hursh edged Dan Freeman and Josh Kessler 8-5 at No. 2 to earn Hobart its lone doubles point. James and Hursh finished the year with an 8-2 doubles record.

In singles play, senior Walter Green defeated Vassar's Nick Jasso at No. 4 5-4 in the first set before Jasso retired due to an injury. Green posted a 14-2 singles record this season. The Brewers' Andrew Guzick topped junior Bruce Grant 6-3, 6-2 at No. 1 to put Vassar up 3-2. Ben Guzick earned a 6-4, 6-4 win at No. 2 for the Brewers to stretch their lead to 4-2. Junior Sam DeLuccia triumphed at No. 3 6-4, 6-4 to get the Statesmen within one point. DeLuccia improved to 14-9 this year.

It came down to the matches at Nos. 5 and 6. Kessler topped senior Hursh 6-3 in the first set at No. 5. Hursh was edged 7-6 in the second set forcing a tiebreak, but fell 7-1, as Kessler secured the 5-3 victory for Vassar. At No. 6, senior Kevin Bates dropped his first set 3-6, but rallied for a 6-1 win in the second, however, the overall match was cut short when the semifinal reached decision.

Hobart, who is regionally ranked No. 14, finished 2011-12 with a 17-5 overall mark. The Statesmen tied the program record for wins in a season.