Vassar College Athletics

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (March 6, 2010) -- In an extremely close match on Saturday morning, senior Emilie Kraft dropped a four-game decision as she represented the Vassar College women's squash team for the final time in the consolation round of the Holleran Division College Squash Association (CSA) Individual Championships hosted by Trinity College.

After losing the first game, Kraft recovered to even the score against Princeton's Nikki Sequeira, but eventually lost the match, 11-5,9-11,11-7,11-5. Kraft went 1-2 at this year's CSA Individual Championships, with an impressive victory over Mount Holyoke College's Laura Robinson in the Round of 64, persevering for a five-game 11-5, 9-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-9 victory. In the Round of 32, Kraft faced a formidable opponent in No. 4 seeded Courtney Bogle of Williams College, falling 3-0 (11-7, 11-7, 11-4).
 
Kraft concludes a remarkable career for Vassar where she was the team's No. 1 player for four years. Kraft led the Brewers to their first ever Liberty League title last season and repeated the feat this year. As a sophomore, Kraft recovered from a two-month layoff with illness to win the deciding match against Amherst and lead Vassar to the 2008 Walker Cup title at the CSA Team Championships.

Kraft amassed an impressive 48-27 career record, and with the 2010 Liberty League Women's Squash Awards not yet released, she is already a two-time Player of the Year with 15 Performer of the Week honors to her name. Kraft was 11-8 in her senior season and was named Performer of the Week on four occasions.

"It's going to be really hard to let her go," said head coach Jane Parker. "Standing at just five feet tall, Emilie has proved herself a giant in Division III college squash. Her determination, passion for squash, and love of her team will be missed, but her legacy of 'energy, fun, and pounce' will live on for future teams."