SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The Hobart tennis team dropped its conference opener this afternoon at No. 35 Skidmore 5-2. With the loss, the Statesmen fall to 6-2 overall and 0-1 in conference play, while the Thoroughbreds improve to 5-3 on the season with a 1-0 mark in the Liberty League.
 
The thrilling conference battle started early in doubles play as Skidmore defeated Hobart in all three matches to secure the doubles point. In the No. 1 spot, seniors Nick Fischer and Aidan Staunton battled Fletcher King and Nika Mori but dropped the tight match 7-6, (7-3) to fall to 4-2 on the season.
 
First-year Everett Reid and junior Achilleas Kousaridis also battled in the No. 2 spot, but dropped a 7-5 decision to Kyle Lundeberg and Ege Topbas, securing the doubles point for the Thoroughbreds.
 
The Statesmen and the Thoroughbreds continued to battle in singles play as Skidmore secured the win with four singles wins over Hobart. Staunton secured one of Hobart's two singles points as he defeated King 7-5, 6-2 in the No. 3 spot. He is now 5-1 in singles dual match play this season.
 
First-year Tejus Ranadive also secured a singles point for Hobart as he topped Mahen Bitkuri 6-2, 7-5 in the No. 6 spot. Ranadive is now 5-1 in singles play this spring.
 
Reid put up a fight in the No. 5 spot but fell in a third set tiebreaker as Radin Sadeghi defeated Reid 1-6, 6-3, 6-3. Classmate Michael Georgelis also fought hard in the No. 4 spot but ultimately fell to Topbas 6-3, 7-6 (7-4). Georgelis is now 6-2 in his rookie season.

UP NEXT:
 
Hobart will be back in action on Thursday, March 26, when it hosts Liberty League foe, Ithaca in a crucial conference matchup. First serve between the Statesmen and the Bombers is set for 4 p.m.