Box Score The SUNY Oneonta men's tennis team battled a strong Rensselaer squad today, but came up on the wrong side of an 8-1 defeat.  Rensselaer (11-4) came into the match ranked #13 in the latest ITA Northeast Region rankings while Oneonta (6-10) was closing out its home schedule for the year.
 
Oneonta's lone point today came from its #1 singles player and team leader, senior Michael Kennelly, who knocked of Matt LaBarre, who is ranked #18 in the Northeast Region.  Kennelly, who won his 38^th career singles match, rallied back from one set down to defeat LaBarre in the second set, 7-6, and then take a third set super tie-breaker, 10-8.
 
The win for Kennelly was the signature moment of his collegiate tennis career.  LaBarre has posted wins against nationally ranked players from MIT, Skidmore and Middlebury this year.
 
"Michael's win today was a shining moment for him and our team," texted head coach Lonnie Mitchel.  "It was the best moment since I took over the program two years ago and it really galvanized us as a team.  Our team has had some tough losses this year to teams that are highly ranked in our region and nationally.  This type of individual win gives us something to build off of next season."
 
Two other matches went to third set super tie-breaks, as juniors Mackenzie Park and Matthew Richards battled hard at second and fourth singles respectively.  Park won the first set of his match, 6-3, before falling 2-6, 5-10.  Richards lost the first set, 2-6, before forcing the third set with a 6-4 win in the second set.  He lost the third set super tie-break 10-5.
 
Oneonta will finish its 2013-14 year on Monday when they travel to Union College to face the Dutchmen beginning at 4pm.
 
Rensselaer 8, SUNY Oneonta 1
 
Singles competition
1. Michael Kennelly (ONEMT) def. Matt LaBarre (RPI_MT) 2-6, 7-6, 10-8
2. Brandon Mazzara (RPI_MT) def. Mackenzie Park (ONEMT) 3-6, 6-2, 10-5
3. McKinley Grimes (RPI_MT) def. Benjamin Leighton (ONEMT) 6-4, 7-5
4. Anthony Kim (RPI_MT) def. Matthew Richards (ONEMT) 6-2, 4-6, 10-5
5. Andre Vorbrodt (RPI_MT) def. Ryohei Nakamura (ONEMT) 6-3, 6-1
6. Stephen Baxter (RPI_MT) def. Damien Prohaska (ONEMT) 6-1, 6-3
 
Doubles competition
1. Brandon Mazzara/Jarrett Regier (RPI_MT) def. Michael Kennelly/Mackenzie Park (ONEMT) 8-3
2. Matt LaBarre/McKinley Grimes (RPI_MT) def. Benjamin Leighton/Matthew Richards (ONEMT) 8-6
3. Sherman Uyeno/Graham Harris (RPI_MT) def. Damien Prohaska/Joseph Morris (ONEMT) 8-3
 
Match Notes
Rensselaer 11-4
SUNY Oneonta 6-10