ATLANTA, GA (May 15, 2010) – The Vassar College women's tennis team's 11-match winning streak hit a formidable roadblock against No. 6 nationally ranked Washington & Lee University on Saturday in the second round of the NCAA Team Championships as the Brewers dropped a 5-0 match at Emory University.

The Brewers, ranked No. 17 in the most recent Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) poll conclude the season with a 19-3 record while the Generals improve to 19-5 and will face host Emory in the regional finals on Sunday at 12:00 p.m.

"True to their character, the team battled hard and competed well against Washington and Lee today," said head coach Kathy Campbell. "The team and coaches are proud of the way Vassar played and fought in the tournament."

The Generals swept doubles play to take a 3-0 lead into singles. Although Washington & Lee won the No. 2 and No. 3 doubles matches with 8-0 sweeps, the No. 1 doubles match featured significantly more drama. The Vassar duo of senior Nicole Pontee and sophomore Joy Backer, ranked No. 7 in the Northeast, put the Washington & Lee team of Lauren Caire and Ellen Yeatman, ranked No. 2 in the Atlantic South to the test, as the Generals narrowly edged the Brewers in a 9-8(7-4) match that took nearly 80 minutes to complete.

"Joy and Nicole played so, so well and stayed tough on big points," said Campbell. "The team maintained its confidence heading into singles play, and all the matches were extremely close."

Washington & Lee's decisive singles wins came at No. 4 and No. 5 as Jen Snyder defeated freshman Natalie Santiago 6-3, 6-0 at No. 4 and Ann Morris, ranked No. 24 in the Atlantic South, beat freshman Jennifer Ruther, 6-0, 6-2 at No. 5 singles.

Although their matches were not decided, Pontee at No. 1 and sophomore Nicole Block at No. 6 had strong showings in their respective competitions. Pontee, ranked No. 6 in the Northeast, was leading Caire, the No. 3 player in the Atlantic South. Pontee won the first set, 6-4, and held a 4-1 advantage in the second set when the match concluded. Block was in the midst of a fierce competition at No. 6, down 4-2 in a first set tiebreaker against Blair Brzeski.

Pontee's season is not over yet, as she was one of just 32 Division III players selected nationally to play in the NCAA Individual Championships. It is the third consecutive year Pontee has played in the individual championship. The singles championship will be hosted by the University of Mary Washington, May 28-30, at the Battleground Tennis Complex in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Washington & Lee 5, Vassar 0

Doubles
1. Lauren Caire/Ellen Yeatman (W&L) def. Nicole Pontee/Joy Backer (VC), 9-8(7-4)
2. Lauren Lukas/Ann Morris (W&L) def. Jennifer Beckerman/Nicole Block (VC), 8-0
3. Blair Brzeski/Trelsie Sadler (W&L) def. Natalie Santiago/Melanie Horn (VC), 8-0

Singles
1. Nicole Pontee (VC) leading Lauren Caire (W&L), 4-6, 1-4
2. Ellen Yeatman (W&L) leading Jennifer Beckerman (VC), 6-1, 4-1
3. Laruen Lukas (W&L) leading Joy Backer (VC), 6-3, 1-2
4. Jen Snyder (W&L) def. Natalie Santiago (VC), 6-3, 6-0
5. Ann Morris (W&L) def. Jennifer Ruther (VC), 6-0, 6-2
6. Blair Brzeski (W&L) leading Nicole Block (VC), 6-6(4-2)

Order of Finish
Doubles: 3, 2, 1
Singles: 5, 4