LATHAM, N.Y.- The Hobart College tennis team was edged by Rensselaer 6-3 in the regular season finale for both teams this afternoon. The loss drops the Statesmen to 9-8 overall and 4-3 in Liberty League play, locking Hobart into the No. 4 seed in next weekend's Liberty League Tournament.
 
The Statesmen and Engineers entered today's match tied for third in the conference standings with identical 4-2 records. With the win Rensselaer improves to 5-2 in conference play and will be the No. 3 seed in the conference tournament. Hobart meanwhile earns the four seed thanks to its win over Vassar, who also finished 4-3 in conference, Saturday.
 
Rensselaer took a 2-1 lead into singles play thanks to wins at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles. The Statesmen earned their doubles win at No. 3 when first-year Patrick Gray and sophomore Harry Nichols defeated Suryansh Patel and Anthony King 9-7. Gray and Nichols are now 11-6 in doubles play this season and have won 10 of their last 11 matches.
 
In singles play, Nichols and Gray posted identical 6-3, 6-2 victories at Nos. 4 and 5 respectively. Nichols is 13-7 in singles play and shares team-high wins with first-year Jonathan Atwater. Gray's win was his 7th of this rookie season. Junior Michael Rusk dropped a three set match to Alain Grullon Gonzalez 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 at No. 3.
 
Hobart will be back in action next weekend, May 7-8, when it takes on Skidmore in the Liberty League Semifinals. The match is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. at Cornell's Reis Tennis Center. The Engineers will take on St. Lawrence in the second semifinal at noon.