POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (February 8, 2009) – It all came down to the final match of the day and Vassar College's Caitlyn Ly (Tucson, AZ/Clayton) and Columbia University's Mahrah Taufigue (New York, NY) ensured it would be a dramatic finish. Ly pulled out a 3-2 (9-1, 9-1, 8-10, 4-9, 9-7) win at the No. 4 spot to give Vassar a 5-4 win and a sweep of the Vassar Squash Challenge at Kenyon Hall on Sunday. Also notching another dramatic five-game win and setting up Ly's heroics was No. 1 Emilie Kraft (Seattle, WA/Seattle Academy), who defeated Liz Chu (New York, NY) 3-2 (7-9, 9-5, 7-9, 9-2, 9-5). In other women's squash competition on Sunday, Wesleyan University defeated Connecticut College, 7-2, and Columbia University downed Wesleyan, 6-3.

The Brewers were 3-0 at the Squash Challenge, with wins over Wesleyan University and Connecticut College on Saturday. Vassar improves to 9-7, with an unblemished 6-0 record at Kenyon. The Brewers head to Harvard University for the Howe Cup on Friday.

“We've had some tough ones with Columbia, but I don't think we expected it to be quite as tough,” said head coach Jane Parker. “The women really got behind each other and when the going got tough they pulled it off which was a great step forward. We faced up to the challenge of a possible defeat on home turf on Senior Day.”

The match between Vassar and Columbia was tight from the beginning, and the match score was tied at three heading into the final three matches, at No. 1, 4, and 7. Vassar's No. 7 Sarah Hockney (Brooklyn, NY/Saint Ann's) nearly pulled out a comeback victory, but Columbia's Maria Ooyevaar (New York, NY) narrowly grabbed the 3-2 (10-8, 9-4, 3-9, 0-9, 10-8) win, meaning that the Brewers setting the stage for Kraft and Ly's decisive five-game victories.

“Caitlin's really improved in the last week, she worked a lot on her technique, and I think that showed in her confidence level today,” said Parker.

Also picking up wins were No. 2 Kristine Bell (Kingston, Jamaica/Immaculate Conception), No. 3 Eleanor Weiss (Millwood, VA/Holton-Arms), and No. 6 Margaret Taylor (Glastonbury, CT/Glastonbury).

Wesleyan University 7, Connecticut College 2
1. Chrissie Parsons (CC) def. Casey Simchik (WU) 3-0 (9-6, 9-0, 9-1)
2. Cara Flynn (CC) def. Gwynne Hunter (WU) 3-0 (9-2, 9-3, 9-3)
3. Elizabeth Demakos (WU) def. Laura Abrahms (CC) 3-2 (7-9, 8-10,9-4,9-7,9-1)
4. Andrea Giuliano (WU) def. Victoria Leeds (CC) 3-0 (9-4, 10-8, 9-5)
5. Keera Bhandari (WU) def. Sarah Robertson (CC) 3-0 (10-8, 9-0, 9-1)
6. Caroline Fox (WU) def. Stephanie Timpone (CC) 3-0 (9-5,9-4, 9-2)
7. Katie Kalafus (WU) def. Carolyn Beinfield (CC) 3-0 (9-0, 9-0, 9-6)
8. Rachel Ghorbani (WU) def. Casey Corn (CC) 3-0 (9-4, 9-4, 9-2)
9. Ashely Garrett (WU) def. Rachel Hollander (CC) 3-0 (9-3,9-0,9-4)
10. Lauren Rassman (WU) def. Annie Reilly (CC) 3-0 (9-0, 9-0,9-0)

Columbia University 6, Wesleyan University 3
1. Liz Chu (CU) def. Casey Simchick (WU) 3-0 (9-0, 9-2, 9-2)
2. Olivia Tandan (CU) def. Gwynne Hunter (WU) 3-0 (9-3, 9-6, 9-0)
3. Anne Chung (CU) DEF. Elizabeth Demakos (WU) 3-1(9-5, 9-2,1-9, 10-9)
4. Andrea Giulian (WU) def. Zahrah Taufique (CU) 3-1 (9-6, 9-2,5-9, 9-3)
5. Sasha Munn (CU) def Keera Bhandari (WU) 3-1 (10-9, 9-6, 0-9, 9-6)
6. Yasmine Koukaz (CU) def. Caroline Fox (WU) 3-0 (9-1, 9-6, 9-4)
7. Maria Ooyevaar (CU) def. Katie Kalafus (WU) 3-1 (0-9, 9-2, 9-7, 9-4)
8. Yoo-Na Kim (CU) def. Rachel Ghorbani (WU) 3-2 (9-6, 7-9, 1-9, 10-9, 9-6)
9. Ashley Garrett (WU) def. Tara Banani (CU) 3-1 (2-9. 9-0, 9-4, 9-4)
10. Elizabeth Larner (WU) def.Kate Hansen (CU) 3-0 (9-6, 9-5, 9-2)

Vassar College 5, Columbia University 4
1. Emilie Kraft (VC) def. Liz Chu (CU) 3-2 (7-9, 9-5, 7-9, 9-2, 9-5)
2. Eleanor Weiss (VC) def. Olivia Tandon (CU) 3-0 (9-7, 9-6, 9-7)
3. Kristine Bell (VC) def. Anne Chung (CU) 3-0 (9-3, 9-1, 9-0)
4. Caitlin Ly (VC) def. Zaharah Taufique (CU) 3-2 (9-1, 9-1, 8-10, 4-9, 9-7)
5. Sasha Munn (CU) def. Hope Blinkoff (VC) 3-2 (9-0, 3-9, 5-9, 9-2, 9-4)
6. Margaret Taylor (VC) def. Yasmine Koukaz (CU) 3-0 (9-0, 9-4, 9-3)
7. Maria Ooyevaar (CU) def. Sarah Hockey (VC) 3-2 (10-8, 9-4, 3-9, 0-9, 10-8)
8. Yoo-Na Kim (CU) def. Nina Punukollu (VC) 3-0 (9-0, 9-3, 9-3)
9. Tara Bananni (CU) def. Olivia Mak (VC) 3-0 (9-2, 10-8, 9-0)
10. Kate Hansen (CU) def. Kristine Schwarz (VC) 3-0 (9-3, 9-4, 9-2)