CAMBRIDGE, MA (February 13, 2009) – Looking to defend its Walker Cup title at the CSA Howe Championships, the No. 19 Vassar College women's squash pulled out a nail-biter in the opening round, defeating No. 22 Colby College 5-4 on Friday morning in the first round of play at Harvard University. It was Vassar's second consecutive clutch victory, after defeating Columbia University 5-4 last Sunday.

The Brewers improve to 10-7 and will face the winner of Franklin & Marshall and Tufts University on Saturday at 11:30 a.m.

With two matches undecided and Colby holding a 4-3 edge, it all came down to freshman Sarah Hockney (Brooklyn, NY/Saint Ann's) and junior Emilie Kraft (Seattle, WA/Seattle Academy), playing at the No. 7 and No. 1 spots, respectively. Hockney won 3-1 (9-4, 9-0, 1-9, 9-5) tying the score 4-4 and making the No. 1 spot the decisive match of the competition. Kraft, who won the tying match against Columbia on Sunday, pulled out another clutch win, 3-1 (9-4, 10-9, 6-9, 9-5) improving her season record to 13-4.

Also registering crucial wins for the Brewers were junior Hope Blinkoff (Buffalo, NY/Nichols), freshman Meg Taylor (Glastonbury, CT/Glastonbury), and Olivia Mak (Hayden, Hong Kong/Coenurd Alene) at the No. 4, 6 and 9 spots, respectively.

Vassar 5, Colby 4

1. Emilie Kraft (VC) def. Samantha Smith (CC), 3-1 (9-4, 10-9, 6-9, 9-5)
2. Catherine Monrad (CC) def. Eleanor Weiss (VC), 3-2 (4-9, 9-1, 2-9, 9-6, 9-4)
3. Maddie Dufour (CC) def. Kristine Bell (VC), 3-0 (9-5, 9-2, 9-6)
4. Jess Vogel (CC) def. Caitlin Ly (VC), 3-0 (9-0, 9-4, 9-0)
5. Hope Blinkoff (VC) def. Caroline Reaves (CC), 3-0 (9-5, 9-3, 9-0)
6. Meg Taylor (VC) def. Jae Paik (CC), 3-0 (9-0, 9-1, 9-7)
7. Sarah Hockney (VC) def. Kaeley Shepard (CC), 3-1 (9-4, 9-0, 1-9, 9-5)
8. Jessica Kravetz (CC) def. Nina Punukollu (VC), 3-0 (9-3, 9-5, 9-5)
9. Olivia Mak (VC) def. Alison Crevi (CC), 3-1 (7-9, 9-7, 9-2, 9-3)