FLUSHING, N.Y. — In a rematch of last year's final, second-seeded Webb Institute successfully defended their title, defeating regular-season champion Culinary Institute of America, 5-0, to secure the 2019 Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Men's Tennis Championship on Sunday evening at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

The Steels (4-1) and Webbies (4-2) both cruised through their semifinal matches by 5-0 margins to set up the rematch.

Dillion Esposito Kelley and Luke Herbermann posted the first point for the Webbies with a decisive 8-1 victory at No. 2 doubles. The other two pairs matches were hard fought both going to a tiebreaker, but it was the Webb who prevailed with both to take a 3-0 lead into the singles session. Duane Lee and Oscar Como prevailed at No. 1 doubles 7-3 in their tiebreaker and Chris Hamilton and Dan Desio took their tiebreak at No. 3 by a 7-4 margin.

Como in the No. 2 position and Esposito Kelley at No. 3 both held their opponents to just one game in 10-1 singles triumphs to secure the deciding point for the Webbies. Webb was up in two matches and Culinary was up in two when the title was decided. 

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2019 HVIAC Men's Tennis Championships

Semifinals

#1 Culinary def. #4 Pratt, 5-0 (forfeit)
#2 Webb def. #3 Vaughn, 5-0  

Championship

#2 Webb def. #1 Culinary, 5-0 | Box

Tournament Champions

Webb Institute

Tournament Runner-Up & Regular Season Champions

The Culinary Institute of America