GENEVA, N.Y.- The Hobart College Tennis team swept Bard 9-0 to open Liberty League play this afternoon in Bristol Field House. The Statesmen, who are ranked 18th in the Oracle/ITA Collegiate Tennis Northeast Regional Rankings, are now 6-4 overall and 1-0 in conference play. Hobart has now won its past four matches since returning from Florida.
 
The Statesmen swept doubles play to take a 3-0 lead in the match. At No. 3, sophomore Harry Nichols and first-year Patrick Gray cruised to an 8-0 victory. In the middle of the lineup, first-years Jonah Salita and Jonathan Atwater knocked off Philip Poznansky and Satchel Fisher 8-2.  Juniors Patrick Dunk and Michael Rusk improved to 7-3 with an 8-6 win in the top spot.
 
Hobart cruised through singles play without dropping a set. Rusk clinched the overall victory, 6-2, 6-0, at No. 2. He is now a team-best 8-2 in singles play this season. Nichols, Atwater and junior Jake Criss won 6-0, 6-0 at Nos. 3, 4, and 6 respectively.  Nichols is now on a six match winning streak and is 7-3 in dual matches. In the top spot, Salita improved to 7-6 overall after defeating the Raptor's Ted Laport, 6-1, 6-1. Gray also collected a point with a 6-3, 6-1 win at No. 5.
 
Hobart will be back in action tomorrow when it travels to the North Country to take on St. Lawrence. The match in Canton, N.Y. is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.