CAMBRIDGE, MA (April 19, 2009) – After sweeping the doubles competition, the No. 24 Vassar College women's tennis team carried its momentum into singles play as the Brewers picked up a 7-2 win over No. 29 Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on Sunday.

The Brewers improve to 14-4 on the season. Vassar hosts Bates College on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. in its final match before the Brewers host the Liberty League Championships April 25-26.

Vassar entered singles play with a 3-0 lead after strong outings in doubles competition, with the closest win coming at No. 3 doubles as freshman Jennifer Beckerman and senior Alexis Jacobson edged their Engineer opponents for an 8-6 win.

"Our doubles was particularly sharp today," said head coach Kathy Campbell. "We executed some things we've been working on very effectively which was nice to see. It was extremely windy and chilly and we dealt with the conditions particularly well. As a team we played with a fighting spirit.  I'm proud of our efforts and ability to compete."

In singles, the Brewers received wins from No. 1 Nicole Pontee, No. 3 Joy Backer, No. 4 Jacobson, and No. 6 Jamison Steele.

Pontee gritted out her win in three sets, with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 victory, over MIT's Leslie Hansen  who was ranked No. 8 in the 2008 ITA Final National Individual Rankings. This was Pontee's first win over Hansen in three tries, after dropping two-set matches to Hansen last season. Pontee started the match strong dictating from the first strike. In the third set Pontee took a 3-0 lead with Hansen fighting back to 3-2 but  after two more games Pontee led 4-3 and closed the match winning the next two games for the 6-3 win in the third set.

"Nicole continues to elevate her game against top-notch competition," said Campbell. "She is playing attacking, precise and consistent tennis."

Both Vassar's losses came in closely contested matches, as No. 2 Beckerman dropped a 6-4, 6-7(4), (10-5) decision to Anastasia Vishnevetsky, and No. 5 Elizabeth Anderson fell 7-6(1), 7-5 to Anisa McCree.


Doubles
1. Nicole Pontee/Jamison Steele (VC) def. Leslie Hansen/Anastasia Vishnevetsky (MIT), 8-4
2. Joy Backer/Krista Romita (VC) def. Karina Pikhart/Yi Wang (MIT), 8-3
3. Jennifer Beckerman/Alexis Jacobson (VC) def. Melissa Diskin/Anisa McCree (MIT), 8-6
Exhibition Doubles
4. Nicole Block/Caroline Dunn-Rankin (VC) def. Sonya Makhni/Sheena Bhalla (MIT), 8-3

Singles
1. Nicole Pontee (VC) def. Leslie Hansen (MIT), 6-2, 3-6, 6-3
2. Anastasia Vishnevetsky (MIT) def. Jennifer Beckerman (VC), 6-4, 6-7(4), (10-5)
3. Joy Backer (VC) def. Yi Wang (MIT), 6-4, 6-2
4. Alexis Jacobson (VC) def. Melissa Diskin (MIT), 6-0, 6-2
5. Anisa McCree (MIT) def. Elizabeth Anderson (VC), 7-6(1), 7-5
6. Jamison Steele (VC) def. Karina Pikhart (MIT), 6-1, 6-2
Exhibition Singles
7. Nicole Block (VC) def. Sonya Makhni (MIT), 6-2, 6-0
8. Caroline Dunn-Rankin (VC) def. Sheena Bhalla (MIT), 6-2, 6-4