WILLIAMSTOWN, MA (September 30, 2007) -- Vassar's women's tennis team was beaten by Williams, 8-1, this afternoon. Senior Courtney Burks (Decorah, IA) registered Vassar's lone win in singles.

Williams captured all three matches with Vassar's second and third doubles losing by narrow 8-6 margins. At second doubles, Vassar tallied a 3-0, 4-1, 5-2, then 6-3 lead with Williams coming from behind to clinch the match. The third doubles match was even the entire way and on both courts, Vassar played smart and aggressive tennis.

In singles, senior Courtney Burks was Vassar's lone winner with a 4-6, 7-6 (5), (10-5) victory. Burks was down 5-1 in the second set and battled back to take the lead 6-5 in the second set and went on to win the tiebreak. In the super-breaker (in lieu of a third set), Burks maintained the lead after 1-1 in the breaker. Burks is now 3-0 in singles this fall. At No. 1 singles, sophomore Nicole Pontee turned the momentum around in the second set tallying a 4-2 lead. The seventh game proved to be another turning point in the set with numerous long, hard fought points and the Williams player eventually winning the game.

"I am proud of the way the team battled today," said head coach Kathy Campbell. "We gained a lot of experience, made some adjustments during the matches and learned some things that will help us throughout the season.

"The Vassar team displayed great teammate support and a continuous fighting spirit throughout the match."

Singles:

1. Cary Gibson d. Nicole Pontee 6-1, 6-4
2. Grace Baijon d. Krista Romita 6-1, 6-2
3. Lucy Marchese d. Kelly Barnett 6-1, 6-1
4. Ashley Parsons d. Elysa Kliman 6-1, 6-2
5. Nikki Reich d. Jamie Steele 6-2, 6-0
6. Courtney Burks, VC d. Katie Friedman, W, 4-6, 7-6(5), (10-5)
7. Exhibition: Genny Loomis d. Elizabeth Anderson, 6-1, 6-0
8. Exhibition: Jane Kelley d. Caroline Dunn-Rankin, 6-2, 6-2

Doubles:

1. Gibson/Baijon d. Romita/Kliman, 8-0
2. Reich/Marchese d. Pontee/Steele, 8-6
3. Barnett/Burks d. Parsons/Jane Kelley, 8-6
4. Exhibition: Loomis/Friedman d. Anderson/Dunn-Rankin, 8-4