By Emma Carmichael

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (February 24, 2008) -- The Vassar College women's tennis team opened its spring 2008 season the same way it ended this past fall -- with a lot of wins. The Brewers, coming off of a great start to the year in which they won the New York State Championship for a sixth straight season, cruised to a 9-0 victory over Muhlenberg College this Sunday, February 24 at Walker Field House. To show the strength of the victory, Muhlenberg is currently ranked #9 in the Atlantic South region.

Vassar, now 1-0 in the spring season, is ranked #25 in the country and #7 in the northeast by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA). The team will next host the University of Scranton this Friday, February 29 at 5:30 pm. The Mules fall to 0-1 and are off until March 19, when they will play at Haverford College at 3:30 pm.

Vassar swept the doubles matches to gain the momentum from the start of the match. Senior Kelly Barnett (Tonroto, ON, Canada/Bishop Strachan) and junior Alexis Jacobson (New Canaan, CT/New Canaan) won a close one at the #3 spot, defeating Muhlenberg's Danielle Winston (Milwaukee, WI/Nicolet) and Lindsay Schmidt (Commack, NY/Commack) 8-5. Barnett has not dropped a doubles match all year long.

“We went into the singles with a 3-0 lead,” said Vassar head coach Kathy Campbell. “I felt like our doubles were particularly well-executed. The things we've been working on, in terms of closing to the net and in terms of volley technique, serve placement -- I was very happy to see those things executed today.”

In singles play, Muhlenberg played some competitive games but Vassar prevailed in all matches, only dropping two sets on the afternoon. At the #2 singles slot, the Mules' Caitie Druker (Lawrenceville, NJ/The Hun School) took the first set 6-3, but dropped the next two 6-4, 6-4. In the #3 match-up, Vassar senior Elsya Kliman (Toronto, ON, Canada/Bishop Strachan) got a hard-fought 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 win over Carly Rotfeld (Wynnewood, PA/Lower Merion).

Campbell was especially pleased with Kliman's mental toughness against a player of similar skill. “That was just a really even match. They both hit steady groundstrokes and had great net games, great serves. [Elysa] was down 1-4 and then 2-5 in the third set. At 2-5 she won the next five games straight. That's withstanding a lot of pressure.”

In the #1 singles match, Brewer sophomore Nicole Pontee (Flossmoor, IL/Homewood-Flossmoor) made quick work of Muhlenberg's Jenn Powell (Naples, FL/The Community School of Naples), winning in straight sets, 6-0, 6-3. The win brings Pontee's career singles record at Vassar to an impressive 34-4.

Vassar freshman Elizabeth Anderson (San Francisco, CA/Lick-Wilmerding) defeated Jacqi Magner (Wilton, CT/Wilton) 6-3, 6-1 in #6 singles play, despite falling behind 3-0 in the first set. It was Anderson's first non-exhibition match at the collegiate level.

“Elizabeth was actually down 3-0 in the first set, and then she started to feel more comfortable,” noted Campbell. “Usually when you're nervous, your feet are the first things to go. She really got a rhythm and got some confidence going and reeled of six straight games to win the first set.”

“Muhlenberg was a really tough team,” added Campbell. “The score is not indicative of the hard-fought matches that were going on. I think our mental toughness was really the thing that made us more competitive in the match. But Muhlenberg, they really gave us a battle today. It was a great first match for us—it's really nice to be pushed this early on.”

Doubles
1. Elysa Kliman/Krista Romita (VC) def. Jenn Powell/Carly Rotfeld (MC), 8-3
2. Nicole Pontee/Jamie Steele (VC) def. Caitie Druker/Sara Sutker (MC), 8-3
3. Kelly Barnett/Alexis Jacobson (VC) def. Danielle Winston/Lindsay Schmidt (MC), 8-5
4. Exhibition- Caroline Dunn-Rankin/Elizabeth Anderson (VC) def. Jacqi Magner/Amanda Clifford (MC), 8-4

Singles
1. Nicole Pontee (VC) def. Jenn Powell (MC), 6-0, 6-3
2. Kelly Barnett (VC) def. Caitie Druker (MC), 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
3. Elysa Kliman (VC) def. Carly Rotfeld (MC), 6-4, 4-6, 7-5
4. Alexis Jacobson (VC) def. Sara Sutker (MC), 6-0, 6-2
5. Jamie Steele (VC) def. Danielle Winston (MC), 6-1, 7-5
6. Elizabeth Anderson (VC) def. Jacqi Magner (MC), 6-3, 6-1
7. Exhibition- Caroline Dunn-Rankin (VC) def. Myah Blazar (MC), 6-2, 7-5

Emma Carmichael is a student assitant in the Sports Information Office