ITHACA, N.Y. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women's tennis team saw their playoff run come to a close on Saturday afternoon, as they fell to the Skidmore Throughbreds by a final score of 5-2 in the Liberty League Semifinals. RPI concludes with a 14-5 overall record – the most wins in a single season in program history, while Skidmore improves to 11-7 overall.
 
RPI, ranked No. 34 in Division III, earned its 14th win (14-4) yesterday over Ithaca to set the school single season record, breaking the mark by three teams that had 13 wins - including last year's squad (13-8).
 
RPI jumped out to an early 2-1 lead after doubles play, as the No. 1 and No. 2 doubles pairings both came out with victories. Nikki Ridenour and Lorna Flores Gonzalez took a one-sided 8-1 win in the top spot, followed by a huge come-from-behind win at the No. 2 spot from Rani Jones and Alex Mednikova by a 8-7 (7) final score.
 
However, the Engineers struggled in singles play as Skidmore made up ground late in the match. The Throughbreds put up four singles wins to clinch the match, with the top two singles spots unfinished for the match.
 
Tennis Match Results
Rensselaer vs Skidmore
4/29/2023 at Ithaca, N.Y.
(Reis Tennis Center - Indoor)
Skidmore 5, Rensselaer 2
 
Singles competition
1. Maya Lal (SKD) vs. Nikki Ridenour (RPIWT) 7-6 (7-3), 4-3, unfinished
2. Grace Truong (SKD) vs. Alex Mednikova (RPIWT) 6-3, 5-7, 4-2, unfinished
3. Katherine Almquist (SKD) def. L. Flores Gonzalez (RPIWT) 6-4, 6-0
4. Konika Dhull (SKD) def. Rani Jones (RPIWT) 7-5, 6-3
5. Ella Provost (SKD) def. Masha Karach (RPIWT) 6-0, 6-2
6. Beilynn Geiss (SKD) def. Brooke Bauer (RPIWT) 6-0, 6-0
 
Doubles competition
1. Nikki Ridenour/L. Flores Gonzalez (RPIWT) def. Maya Lal/Chanhtel Thongphok (SKD) 8-1
2. Alex Mednikova/Rani Jones (RPIWT) def. Ella Provost/Grace Truong (SKD) 8-7 (7-4)
3. Konika Dhull/Beilynn Geiss (SKD) def. Masha Karach/Brooke Bauer (RPIWT) 8-3
 
Match Notes:
Rensselaer 14-5
Skidmore 11-7
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (6,5,3,4)
Liberty League semifinal match: #2 Skidmore vs. #3 RPI
#2 Skidmore advances to play #1 Vassar in championship, Sunday at 9 a.m.
T-2:48 A-50