Bates (4-2) got off to a slow start against the Panthers (2-2) and couldn't recover. The Bobcats dropped matches at the No. 6 and No. 3 positions to fall into a 2-0 hole.

Senior Carlos Ames (Williamstown, Mass.) took care of business at the No. 9 position, defeating Middlebury's Nick Bermingham 3-1 (6-11, 11-8, 11-3, 11-5) to get Bates in the win column.

But the Bobcats fell at the No. 2 and No. 8 positions as well to fall behind 4-1.

Senior captain Spencer Burt (Portland, Ore.) and senior three-time All-American Ahmed Hatata (Alexandria, Egypt) helped Bates rally to within one of the Panthers with wins at the No. 5 and No. 1 positions respectively.

Burt took down Middlebury's Jack Kagan 3-2 (7-11, 11-0, 9-11, 12-10, 11-8), taking the last two games to rally for the win. Meanwhile Hatata dispatched Wyatt French 3-0 (11-7, 11-2, 13-11).

Sophomore Coley Cannon (Greenwich, Conn.) gave it his all at the No. 7 position, but fell just short in a 3-2 (11-8, 11-9, 8-11, 10-12, 11-6) loss to the Panthers' Robert Rohrbach. Rohrbach's win clinched the match for Middlebury and they tacked on a win at the No. 4 position for good measure.   

Bates looks to bounce back Sunday when they visit No. 19 nationally ranked Williams. The match gets started at noon. 

No. 15 Middlebury 6, No. 17 Bates 3
Jan. 7, 2017 at Middlebury, Vt.

1. Ahmed Hatata (B) def. Wyatt French (M) 11-7, 11-2, 13-11
2. Jacob Ellen (M) def. Darrius Campbell (B) 11-1, 11-8, 11-4
3. Andrew Cadiendhead (M) def. Anirudh Nambiar (B) 13-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-6
4. William Cembalest (M) def. Mahmoud Yousry (B) 11-6, 11-6, 16-14
5. Spencer Burt (B) def. Jack Kagan (M) 7-11, 11-0, 9-11, 12-10, 11-8
6. Ben Krant (M) def. Graham Bonnell (B) 11-6, 11-7, 12-10
7. Robert Rohrbach (M) def. Coley Cannon (B) 11-8, 11-9, 8-11, 10-12, 11-6
8. William Kurth (M) def. Garon Rothenberg (B) 16-14, 11-9, 11-8
9. Carlos Ames (B) def. Nick Bermingham (M) 6-11, 11-8, 11-3, 11-5