LATHAM, N.Y. -The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's tennis team squeezed out a 5-4 win over No. 26 Skidmore College at Tri-City Racquet Club. RPI improves to 8-2, while the Thoroughbreds fall to 6-5.
 
Skidmore, ranked eighth in the Northeast Region, opened with a 2-1 lead after doubles over the Engineers, who are ranked 11th in the Northeast. The Engineers' No. 1 team of Jarrett Regier and Brandon Mazzara, which is ranked 15th in the region, fell to Oliver Loutsenko and Danny Knight - the second ranked team regionally - 8-2. At No. 2, the Thoroughbreds tandem of Jimmy Sherpa and Nick Tong, which is ranked 11th in the region, came back from a 3-0 deficit to win in a tiebreak, 9-8 (4).
 
In singles, Regier pulled RPI even with a 6-1, 6-0 victory at No. 2 over Danny Knight and McKinley Grimes gave RPI a 3-2 lead with a 6-1, 6-1 win at No. 4 over Alec Hoblitzell.  Skidmore took the next two matches in straight sets for a 4-3 lead. Miles Ransom won 6-3, 6-4 at number three and Gabe Steerman was a 6-0, 6-4 winner at number five.  
 
RPI took the final two matches for the win. Anthony Kim beat Jonah Epstein at No. 6, 6-4, 6-4, and Matt LaBarre won at No. 1 in a tight, three-set match with Sherpa, 6-7 (3), 6-1, 6-4. LaBarre is ranked 13th in the region in singles, while Sherpa is 18th.
 
Skidmore plays at Amherst on April 6 at 1pm.
 
Rensselaer 5, Skidmore 4
Mar 30, 2014 at Latham, N.Y. (Tri-City Racquet Club)
Singles competition
1. Matt LaBarre (RPI) def. Jimmy Sherpa (SKI) 6-7 (3), 6-1, 6-4
2. Jarrett Regier (RPI) def. Danny Knight (SKI) 6-1, 6-0
3. Miles Ransom (SKI) def. Brandon Mazzara (RPI) 6-3, 6-4
4. Mckinley Grimes (RPI) def. Alec Hoblitzell (SKI) 6-1, 6-1
5. Gabe Steerman (SKI) def. Sherman Uyeno (RPI) 6-0, 6-4
6. Anthony Kim (RPI) def. Jonah Epstein (SKI) 6-4, 6-4
 
Doubles competition
1. Oliver Loutsenko/Danny Knight (SKI) def. Jarrett Regier/Brandon Mazzara (RPI) 8-2
2. Jimmy Sherpa/Nick Tong (SKI) def. Matt LaBarre/Mckinley Grimes (RPI) 9-8 (4)
3. Sherman Uyeno/Graham Harris (RPI) def. Miles Ransom/Gabe Steerman (SKI) 8-2