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TROY, N.Y. - The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's tennis team jumped out to a 4-1 lead, but needed Zack Ebenfeld to come-from-behind to win at No. 4 singles in the final match of the afternoon and the Engineers defeated No. 38 Stevens Institute of Technology, 5-4, in a non-league match at Sharp Courts. RPI has now won four straight matches to improve to 8-5, while the Ducks fall to 6-11.

Leading 4-1, the Engineers had three opportunities to clinch the match with second set wins, but Stevens won tiebreakers in each to force decisive third sets. The Ducks went on to win two of them, along with a third set tiebreak to knot the score at 4-4. Ebenfeld, a freshman, fell behind in his third set, but battled back to close things out, 6-2, 6-7 (4), 7-5. 

The win was the second of the day for Ebenfeld, who joined Sebastian Castillo-Sanchez at No. 2 doubles for an 8-6 win. Castillo-Sanchez, also a freshman, went on to win at No. 1 singles, 6-3, 6-3. Xavier Oshinowo, another freshman, picked up two wins of his own, capturing No. 1 doubles with Tristan Wise, 8-5, and No. 2 singles, 6-2, 6-2.

The Engineers return to the court at 11am on Saturday with a match at league foe Vassar College.

RENSSELAER 5, STEVENS 4
April 14, 2017 at Sharp Courts

1. Tristan Wise & Xavier Oshinowo (RPI) def. Kyle Henry & Antonio Perich: 8-5
2. Sebastian Castillo-Sanchez & Zack Ebenfeld (RPI) def. Danny Polk & Michael Feldman: 8-6
3. Will Persson & Devin Sarthak (SIT) def. Sundar Devakottai & Winston Yu: 8-4

1. Castillo-Sanchez (RPI) def. Polk: 6-3, 6-3
2. Oshinowo (RPI) def. Henry: 6-2, 6-2
3. Persson (SIT) def. Wise: 5-7, 7-6 (5), 6-4
4. Ebenfeld (RPI) def. Charles Drake: 6-2, 6-7 (4), 7-5
5. Feldman (SIT) def. Yu: 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (3)
6. Dave Schulz (SIT) def. Devakottai: 2-6, 7-6 (9), 6-4

ORDER OF FINISH: 1, 2, 3 ... 1, 2, 5, 6, 3, 4*