ITHACA, N.Y. – The top-ranked Skidmore College men's tennis team is back in the Liberty League finals after a hard-fought 5-0 victory over fourth-seeded Vassar, Saturday afternoon inside the Reis Tennis Center.
 
The victory improves No. 25 Skidmore to 10-6 overall. The Thoroughbreds have reached the finals for the seventh straight season, winning 16 of the last 17 league tournament matches, stretching back to 2010. Skidmore will take on the Hobart/RPI winner on Sunday at 9 a.m.
 
Vassar falls to 11-10.
 
Skidmore swept all three doubles matches to take a commanding 3-0 lead. Kai Yuen Leung and John Wynne got it started for the Thoroughbreds with their 8-3 win at No. 1 against Vassar's Jeremy Auh and Alexander Luckmann. At No. 3, Nils Akesson and Lucas Pickering won in an 8-3 victory against Nick Litsky and Nick Zuczek. Steven Koulouris and Travis Leaf clinched the doubles sweep with an 8-4 victory over Allen Sokolov and Juan Felipe Laso.
 
In singles action, four of the six matches went to third sets. However, Skidmore clinched the match with two straight set victories. At No. 6, Ted Berkowitz defeated Luckmann 6-2, 6-2. Koulouis clinched the match and sent Skidmore to the championship with his victory at No. 2 against Sokolov, 6-3, 6-4. Leung, Pickering, and Leaf held leads in the third set of their singles matches when the game was called in favor of Skidmore.
 
 
Tennis Match Results
Vassar vs Skidmore
May 06, 2017 at Ithaca, N.Y. (Reis Tennis Center)
#25 Skidmore 5, Vassar 0

Singles Competition
1. Kai Yuen Leung (SKD) vs. Nick Litsky (VAS) 3-6, 6-2, 4-3, unfinished
2. Steven Koulouris (SKD) def. Allen Sokolov (VAS) 6-3, 6-4
3. Lucas Pickering (SKD) vs. Juan Felipe Laso (VAS) 6-7 (2-7), 6-2, 3-2, unfinished
4. John Wynne (SKD) vs. Jamie Anderson (VAS) 6-7 (1-7), 6-4, 1-1, unfinished
5. Travis Leaf (SKD) vs. Jeremy Auh (VAS) 6-2, 3-6, 5-1, unfinished
6. Ted Berkowitz (SKD) def. Alexander Luckmann (VAS) 6-2, 6-2

Doubles Competition
1. Kai Yuen Leung/John Wynne (SKD) def. Jeremy Auh/Alexander Luckmann (VAS) 8-3
2. Steven Koulouris/Travis Leaf (SKD) def. Allen Sokolov/Juan Felipe Laso (VAS) 8-4
3. Nils Akesson/Lucas Pickering (SKD) def. Nick Litsky/Nick Zuczek (VAS) 8-3

Match Notes:
Vassar 11-10; Regional ranking #17
Skidmore 10-6; National ranking #25; Regional ranking #10
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (6,2)
Liberty League Tournament Semifinals: #1 Skidmore vs. #4 Vassar
Skidmore advances to championship match, Sunday at 9 a.m.
Official: Frank Thomas T-3:15 A-75