The Hobart College tennis team and Rochester battled for six hours, 45 minutes tonight at Bristol Field House. The Statesmen outlasted the Yellowjackets 5-4, improving their overall record to 5-4. Rochester dropped to 7-8 overall.

First-year Alex James led the Statesmen at third singles, defeating Rochester’s Austin Armstrong 5-7, 7-6, 6-2. Sophomore Kevin Bates earned a 6-1, 6-3 win over Alex Magill at No. 5, in one of only two singles matches that was decided in two sets.

Junior Matt Chin wrapped up singles play with a come-from-behind victory over Matt Volkov (2-6, 6-2, 6-3) at No. 6.

In doubles action, James teamed up with first-year Bruce Grant to defeat Armstrong and Brian Bowman at No. 1, while Chin and sophomore Matt Hursh combined for a hard-fought 8-6 win vs. Brian Schmeer and Daniel Barbash at No. 2.

The Statesmen will return to the courts tomorrow, March 24, when they host Nazareth at 4 p.m.