The RPI men’s tennis team had a tough weekend at Vassar College for the Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association’s Men’s Tennis Tournament. Though the Red Hawks entered the tournament seeded third, the men’s team finished sixth out of seven teams but ahead of only Clarkson. Top-seeded Skidmore College defeated second-seeded Hobart College 7-0 to win the championship match.
The weekend started with a tough 4-3 loss to sixth-seeded Union. Mike Heligman lost a close two-setter, 7-6 (9-7), 7-5, at first singles, while Joe Byrne won his match over Union’s Billy Goldstein at second singles in two sets, both of which went to tiebreaks. Mike Heligman/Joe Black won their match at first doubles, but RPI was unable to secure either of the other two doubles matches to earn the valuable doubles point.
Later on Saturday, RPI met seventh-seeded Clarkson in the consolation round. RPI really shined in this match, which it won 4-0. Heligman and Borjan Gagoski scored two-set victories over Sergey Demidenko and Ashwin Venkatraman of Clarkson, while Joaquin Denoya and Byrne prevailed in the third set of their matches.
RPI lost its momentum from its shutout victory when it faced Saint Lawrence University on Sunday. St. Lawrence took all seven points for that match, including all three doubles matches. Jon Addison had the most success at sixth singles, pushing the Saints’ Terran Palmer Angell to a decisive third-set tiebreak, eventually losing 6-3, 4-6, 10-8.
RPI faces Hartwick today at 3:00 pm at home at the Sharp Tennis Courts. Come out and support the men’s tennis team at its last regular season match.
