SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The Bard College men's tennis season has started out with a gauntlet - a Saturday match vs. powerful Vassar, and a Sunday match vs. 24th-ranked Skidmore.

Both ended in losses, but coach Fred Feldman acknowledged after Sunday's match at Skidmore that it might not be a bad thing that Bard has seen such tough opposition early on. It can only get easier from here, right?

The team was buoyed by the fact that Bard's No. 1 singles player, junior Satchel Fisher, was up 5-2 in the first set against Skidmore's Ted Berkowitz. Berkowitz (Fairfield, CT) rallied to win the first set, 7-5, then cruised 6-1 in the second set. But the fact that Bard was stubborn there was inspiring to Fisher's teammates looking forward.

Complete results

Bard managed to take just one game in the remaining five singles matches, and just two games in doubles. Both are Bard's victories were on forfeits. The Raptors are 0-2; Skidmore is 1-0.

Up next for Bard is a non-league match at Ramapo next Sunday.