MIDDLEBURY — The Middlebury College men’s tennis team defeated visiting non-league foe Skidmore on Sunday, 7-2, to finish the regular season at 14-2, including an unbeaten mark in NESCAC play.
The Panthers, ranked No. 3 in NCAA Division III, will go after the league title this weekend at Bates, which will host the NESCAC tournament.
Against No. 20 Skidmore (12-4), the Panthers took a 2-1 lead in doubles play. At No. 1, Palmer Campbell and Hamid Derbani were the first to finish with an 8-1 decision over Kai Yuen Leung and Nick Tong. In the second flight, Middlebury doubled its lead when Ari Smolyar and Noah Farrell earned an 8-3 victory against Skidmore’s Kit Sanderson and Jonah Epstein. At No. 3, Skidmore’s Lucas Pickering and Steven Koulouris edged Kyle Schlanger and William de Quant, 9-8.
In singles play, the Panthers picked up the first two points to pull ahead, 4-1. At No. 4, de Quant won, 6-3, 6-4, over Pickering, and at No. 3 Campbell prevailed, 6-2, 6-3, over Sanderson.
At No. 1, Skidmore picked up a point when Leung posted a 6-2, 6-3 triumph against Farrell.
Smolyar clinched the match at No. 2 with a three-set victory over Koulouris (4-6, 6-2, 6-1). At No. 5, Derbani earned a 6-1, 6-4 win versus Tong. Schlanger tallied at 6-1, 6-2 victory over Ted Berkowitz in the sixth spot.