SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Ithaca College men's tennis team secured a berth in the Liberty League Tournament on Saturday with a hard-fought 4-3 victory over No. 59 Union College at the Union Tennis Courts. With the win, the Bombers are guaranteed at least the No. 3 seed and can clinch the No. 2 seed with a road win at Skidmore on Sunday.
 
Ithaca claimed the opening doubles point with wins at the top two positions. At No. 1 doubles, Gijs Fidler and Siddharth Vaada cruised to a 6-2 victory over Arhan Gupta and Jesus Sosa. Moments later, Luis Crespo and Ean Lantzy sealed the point with a 6-4 win at No. 2 doubles against Simon Philip and Solen Bellemare.
 
Union responded in singles play by winning both three-set matches at the top of the lineup. Fidler and Ivan Kisic each dropped their matches in decisive third sets, allowing the Garnet Chargers to take a 2-1 lead.
 
Momentum shifted in Ithaca's favor at No. 3 singles, where Crespo rebounded after a first-set loss to defeat Gupta, 4-6, 6-2, 6-0. Carlos Hernandez followed with a straight-sets win at No. 4 singles, topping Daniel Saxe 6-4, 6-2, giving the Bombers a 3-2 advantage.
 
Union evened the match with a victory at No. 5 singles, setting the stage for a decisive contest at No. 6. Samuel Lopez-Cardenas delivered the clincher for Ithaca, defeating Vivaan Gupta 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 to secure the 4–3 team victory.
 
Next up No. 55 Ithaca will take on No. 22 Skidmore in a road matchup on Sunday slated for 10 a.m.