WAPPINGERS FALLS, N.Y.— The Hobart College tennis team swept Bard College last night in its Liberty League season opener, 9-0. The Statesmen move to 8-3 overall and 1-0 in the Liberty League, while the Raptors fall to 2-5, with an 0-4 mark in conference play.
 
The Statesmen started out strong, earning all three doubles points. Sophomore Troy Steiner and senior Harry Lyu topped Noah Gulla and Thanasis Kostikas 8-2 in the No. 1 spot. Steiner and Lyu are now 2-0 in the No.1 position.
 
Liberty League Doubles Team of the Week, first-year Nick Fischer and first-year Aiden Staunter defeated Drew Soleiman and Kai O'Donnell, 8-2 in the No. 2 position, while senior Guthrie Speers and sophomore Hyat Oyer beat Sam Gerber and Yashar Khan at No. 3, 8-0.
 
Hobart extended its lead in singles action, winning all six matches in straight sets. In the No. 1 spot, sophomore Jacob Linares bested Gulla 6-4, 6-0. At the No. 2 spot, sophomore Nick Grosso downed Kostikas, 6-0, 6-0, while sophomore Rahul Vallabhajosula defeated O'Donnell, 6-1, 6-0 at No. 3.
 
First-year Tarang Malhotra topped Soleiman at No. 4, 6-1, 6-0, for his first collegiate win in dual match action. At the No. 5 spot, first-year Jose Martinez Barelles swept gerber, 6-0, 6-0 in his first collegiate match, as well as first-year Rithik Adiani at the No. 6 spot. Adiani defeated MacDonald 6-0, 6-1 to grab his first collegiate win.
 
UP NEXT
 
Hobart will be back in action this afternoon when it travels to Saratoga Springs, NY to take on No. 29 Skidmore (6-5). First serve between the Statesmen and the Raptors is set at 10 a.m.