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MIDDLEBURY, Vermont – Baruch advanced in the NCAA Men's Tennis Tournament with a 5-3 victory over Colby-Sawyer in a match played on Middlebury's Proctor Tennis Courts. The Bearcats (12-2) will play the host Panthers on Friday morning at 11:00 a.m., while the Chargers finish their season at 14-11.

Baruch jumped out to a 3-0 advantage at the conclusion of doubles. The Bearcats' Hugo Castalan and Leonard Margolis posted an 8-3 victory at No. 2 over Colby-Sawyer's Ryan Sawyer and Dean Boodakian.

A few minutes later, Baruch doubled its lead when Joaquin Azcue and Marco Gobbato tallied an 8-5 victory over Gustav Jigrup and Alex Wright in the top flight. The No. 3 duo of Jaime Zurro and David Alabo completed the sweep with a 9-8 (6) triumph over Colby-Sawyer's Cass McCann and Andrew Peloquin.

In singles matches, the Bearcats were victorious at No. 3 when Jamie Zurro posted a 6-3, 6-3 victory over McCann. In the second spot, Wright got the Chargers on the board with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Castalan. Jigrup pulled Colby-Sawyer to within two (4-2) via a 6-2, 6-3 triumph over Azcue atop the lineup, while Boodakian drew the Chargers to 4-3 with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Margolis at No. 5.

Gobbato clinched the match for the Bearcats with a 6-4, 6-4 triumph over Sawyer in the fourth spot.

One match went unfinished as Baruch's Alabo won the first set at No. 6 (6-2), but Ross Kenney for Colby-Sawyer was up 6-5 in the second when the match ended.

The first round win was the Bearcats' and CUNYAC third-ever NCAA men's tennis win. 

"Seeing my teammates hustle so hard inspired me to keep going and doing my best effort," said Gobbato.

"It was a great team effort and courageous performance by Jaime Zurro and and Marco Gobbato," said Azcue, who was recently voted as CUNYAC Player of the Year.