POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (January 7, 2009) – The Vassar College women's squash team remained unbeaten on its home court and improved to over .500 on the year with two wins on the first day of the Vassar Squash Team Challenge at Kenyon Hall. Vassar downed Connecticut College, 8-1, in its morning match, and then defeated Wesleyan University 6-3 in the evening. In other women's squash action, Columbia University beat Connecticut College, 6-3.

The Brewers improve to 8-7 (5-0 at Vassar) and will look to defend their home court against Columbia University on Sunday at 4:00 p.m.

The Brewers cruised through their morning match against Connecticut College, registering 3-0 sweeps in all eight wins. The Camels' lone victory came at the No. 2 spot, as Cara Flynn (Haverford, PA/Agnes Irwin School) pulled out a 3-1 (9-5, 9-1, 5-9, 10-8) win over senior Eleanor Weiss (Millwood, VA/Holton-Arms).

Vassar's second match of the day against Wesleyan was more hotly contested and pitted Brewer head coach Jane Parker, against one of her former pupils, Wesleyan head coach Shona Kerr, who played for Parker in England. The Brewers emerged victorious, with their No. 1 Emilie Kraft (Seattle, WA/Seattle Academy) notching the decisive victory 3-1 (9-5, 8-10, 9-2, 9-3) over Casey Simchik (Rye, NH/Phillips Exeter Academy), as Vassar's top six positions registered wins. At No. 6, freshman Margaret Taylor (Glastonbury, CT/Glastonbury) gutted out a 3-2 win, while Caitlyn Ly (Tucson, AZ/Clayton) and Hope Blinkoff (Buffalo, NY/Nichols) earned 3-1 wins at the No. 4 and 5 spots, respectively. No. 2 Weiss, and No. 3 Kristine Bell (Kingston, Jamaica/Immaculate Conception) picked up Vassar's lone 3-0 sweeps.

Vassar 8, Connecticut College 1

1. Emilie Kraft (VC) def. Chrissie Parsons (CC) 3-0 (9-1, 9-3, 10-9)
2. Cara Flynn (CC) def. Eleanor Weiss (VC) 3-1 (9-5, 9-1, 5-9, 10-8)
3. Kristine Bell (VC) def. Laura Abrams (CC) 3-0 (9-6, 9-4, 9-3)
4. Caitlin Ly (VC) def. Victoria Leeds (CC) 3-0 (9-1, 9-2, 9-1)
5. Hope Blinkoff (VC) def. Sarah Robertson (CC) 3-0 (9-1, 9-1, 9-2)
6. Margret Taylor (VC) def. Stephanie Timpone (CC) 3-0 (9-0, 9-0, 9-5)
7. Sarah Hockney (VC) def. Carolyn Beinfield (CC) 3-0 (9-3, 9-1, 9-3)
8. Nina Punukollu (VC) def. Casey Corn (CC) 3-0 (9-1, 9-1, 9-5)
9. Olivia Mak (VC) def. Rachel Hollander (CC) 3-0 (9-3, 9-1, 9-5)
10. Kristina Schwarz (VC) def. Anna Riley (CC) 3-0 (9-7, 9-1, 9-1)

Columbia University 7, Connecticut College 2

1. Liz Chu (CU) def. Chrissie Parson (CC) 3-0 (9-2, 9-0, 9-4)
2. Cara Flynn (CC) def. Olivia Tandon (CU) 3-0 (9-3, 9-4, 9-0)
3. Laura Abrams (CC) def. Anne Cheng (CU) 3-2 (9-7, 1-9, 4-9, 9-7, 9-8)
4. Zahrah Taufuque (CU) def. Victoria Leeds (CC) 3-0 (9-5, 9-3, 9-1)
5. Sasha Munn (CU) def. Sarah Robertson (CC) 3-1 (9-4, 5-9, 9-3, 9-1)
6. Yasmine Koukaz (CU) def. Stephanie Timpone (CC) 3-0 (9-3, 9-2, 9-0)
7. Maria Ooyevaar (CU) def. Carolyn Beinfield (CC) 3-1 (9-0, 4-9, 9-3, 9-4)
8. Yoo-Na Kim (CU) def. Casey Corn (CC) 3-0 (9-1, 9-1, 9-0)
9. Tara Banani (CU) def. Rachel Hollander (CC) 3-0 (9-0, 9-1, 9-1)
10. Kate Hansen (CU) def. Annie Reilly (CC) 3-1 (7-9, 9-1, 9-1, 9-0)


Vassar College 6, Wesleyan University 3

1. Emilie Kraft (VC) def. Casey Simchik (WU) 3-1 (9-5, 8-10, 9-2, 9-3)
2. Eleanor Weiss (VC) def. Gwynne Hunter (WU) 3-0 (9-0, 9-2, 9-4)
3. Kristine Bell (VC) def. Liz Demakos (WU) 3-0 (9-7, 9-7, 9-4)
4. Caitlyn Ly (VC) def. Andrea Givliano (WU) 3-1 (9-6, 10-9, 2-9, 10-9)
5. Hope Blinkoff (VC) def. Keera Bhandari (WU) 3-1 (6-9, 9-4, 9-2, 9-0)
6. Margaret Taylor (VC) def. Jenny Chu (WU) 3-2 (10-9, 3-9, 4-9, 9-6, 9-7)
7. Caroline Fox (WU) def. Sarah Hockney (VC) 3-0 (10-8, 9-5, 9-3)
8. Katie Kalafus (WU) def. Nina Punukollu (VC) 3-1 (2-9, 10-8, 9-3, 9-5)
9. Rachel Gherbani (WU) def. Olivia Mak(VC) 3-1 (2-9, 9-1, 9-3, 9-4)