Box Score Geneva, NY – For the second week the SUNY Oneonta men's tennis squad took on another power house team from the Liberty League.  This time it was the Hobart College Statesman, as they found out that the Red Dragons are for real.  Yet, for the second consecutive week, the Red Dragons fell short of a win in another heartbreaking match lasting almost five hours.  With three freshmen and one transfer in the lineup, taking on a squad full of upperclassmen from a regionally ranked squad, the Red Dragons jumped out to a 2-1 lead after the doubles stanza.

Freshman Nick Fox got his first career win at the number one doubles position along with partner junior transfer Michael Nelson (Manhasset/Manhasset).  They got the early break they needed and held on to win 8-5.
 
The number three doubles tandem of senior captains Joseph Morris (Bainbridge/Sidney Senior High School) and Damien Prohaska (Binghamton/Binghamton High School) teamed together for the first time this year.   That duo secured a 2-1 lead in doubles play as they got two breaks of serve in the match and took down the number three Statesman Team, 8-5, holding off a late surge from their opponents.  However, Morris closed out the match with some big serving.
 
Singles play was a marathon affair with the Red Dragons splitting sets at number one, three and six singles positions.  Nelson dropped the third set at number one as he was broken on match game.  Freshman Andrew Emanuel (Rye/Rye) lost the first set in his match and fought back valiantly to force a deciding third set, but the sophomore from Hobart had too much and the more experienced Statesman dominated the final set and took the match.  Those two results coupling with losses at number two, four and five singles secured the dual match for the Statesman.

In the match, sophomore Zach Lasky (Colonie/Colonie) got back on the winning track and turned in a clutch performance at the sixth position.  Lasky, fighting back spasms, dropped the first set 4-6, then fought back to take the second set and won in the super-tiebreaker to secure the Red Dragons' third point of the day over junior Danny Kot of Hobart making the final score going in favor of the Statesmen 6-3. 
 
Although the Red Dragons were again on the short end of the score, in the prior three trips to Geneva, only managed one point.  Today the Red Dragons have proved that the team has closed the gap to the top competition by tripling their previous results combined as the young squad is gaining very valuable experience.
 
The Red Dragons will have a week and a half off before their next match in Lakeland, Florida on Wednesday, March 9^th versus the University of Northwestern Eagles, St. Paul, Minnesota beginning at 12 noon.
 
Doubles competition
1. Michael Nelson (Manhasset/Manhasset)/Nicholas Fox (Commack/Commack) (ONE) def. Jonathan Atwater/Jonah Salita (HOB) 8-5
2. Michael Rusk/Danny Kot (HOB) def. Andrew Emanuel (Rye/Rye)/Joseph D'Orazio (Smithtown/Smithtown) (ONE) 8-5
3. Damien Prohaska (Binghamton/Binghamton High School)/Joseph Morris (Bainbridge/Sidney Senior High School) (ONE) def. Harry Nichols/Jake Criss (HOB) 8-5
 
Singles competition
1. Jonah Salita (HOB) def. Michael Nelson (Manhasset/Manhasset) (ONE) 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
2. Jonathan Atwater (HOB) def. Joseph D'Orazio (Smithtown/Smithtown) (ONE) 6-0, 6-4
3. Harry Nichols (HOB) def. Andrew Emanuel (Rye/Rye) (ONE) 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
4. Michael Rusk (HOB) def. Cole Laffitte (East Setauket/Ward Melville) (ONE) 6-1, 6-1
5. Patrick Dunk (HOB) def. Nicholas Fox (Commack/Commack) (ONE) 6-4, 6-0
6. Zach Lasky (Colonie/Colonie) (ONE) def. Danny Kot (HOB) 6-4, 4-6, 10-6