POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (April 22, 2009) – After sweeping Bates College on Wednesday evening at Walker Field House, the Vassar College women's tennis team brings the momentum of four consecutive wins into this weekend's long-anticipated Liberty League Championships. The Brewers secured the 9-0 shutout despite a persistent effort by the Bobcats, who forced three matches beyond two sets.

Vassar, ranked No. 24 in the ITA Division III National Team Rankings, improves to 15-4 and will host five Liberty League foes in the conference tournament this weekend on the Joss Courts. The Brewers, in pursuit of their eighth straight League title, are anticipating a repeat showdown with No. 26 Skidmore, who they defeated 7-2 for the championship last year. Vassar, seeded No. 1 in this weekend's tournament, also beat Skidmore, the No. 2 seed, 6-3 this spring, on April 11. The Brewers will play the winner of No. 4 William Smith and the No. 5 seed (which will be either Union or RPI) on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

Bates, meanwhile, drops to 4-9 and will play Colby at home this Friday at 4:00pm.

The Brewers started off on Wednesday by winning all three doubles matches, but it didn't come easily. At the No. 1 spot, Bobcats Caryn Benisch and Alexandra Piacquad led 7-4 and appeared to be on the verge of knocking off Brewers Nicole Pontee and Jamison Steele. But Pontee and Steele, playing like the experienced veterans they are, rallied to hold off Bates' top duo and win in a tiebreak, 9-8 (3).

In singles play, Vassar freshmen Joy Backer and Jennifer Beckerman both faced tough opponents but came through in the tiebreaks to secure a perfect match for the Brewers. At No. 3, Backer took the first set 6-1 but fell 1-6 in the second to Bates' Meg Anderson. But Backer, the Liberty League Rookie of the Week, bounced back in the third and won 7-5.

At No. 2, Beckerman recovered from a tough three-set loss against MIT last Sunday to record a prolonged victory of her own, defeating Bobcat Piacquad 5-7, 7-6 (5), 10-5.

“Jennifer really stepped up against her opponent,” said assistant coach Mark Chace. “[Piacquad] had one of the best serve-and-volley games we've seen as a team, but Jennifer's return serve was a big step up for her that enabled her to win back-to-back tiebreakers. She got a high percentage of her first serves in and played with intelligence and confidence.”

Head coach Kathy Campbell said that after today's dominant win, the team will shift its focus to this weekend's competition in practice tomorrow.

“I'm glad we had the MIT and Bates matches leading into the tournament,” said Campbell. “We saw some really exceptional opponents, and we continually came out to compete, not just to play.”

Doubles
1. Nicole Pontee/Jamison Steele (VC) def. Caryn Benisch/Alexandra Piacquad (BC), 9-8 (3)
2. Joy Backer/Krista Romita (VC) def. Erika Blauth/Brooke Morse-Karzen (BC), 8-3
3. Jennifer Beckerman/Alexis Jacobson (VC) def. Meg Anderson/Jean Gulliver (BC), 8-2
Exhibition Doubles
4. Nicole Block/Caroline Dunn-Rankin (VC) def. Nicolle Bugajski/Elizabeth Stege (BC), 8-0

Singles
1. Nicole Pontee (VC) def. Caryn Benisch (BC), 6-1, 6-0
2. Jennifer Beckerman (VC) def. Alexandra Piacquad (BC), 5-7, 7-6 (5), 10-5
3. Joy Backer (VC) def. Meg Anderson (BC), 6-1, 1-6, 7-5
4. Alexis Jacobson (VC) def. Brooke Morse-Karzen (BC), 7-5, 6-2
5. Elizabeth Anderson (VC) def. Erika Blauth (BC), 6-3, 6-2
6. Jamison Steele (VC) def. Jean Gulliver (BC), 6-0, 6-0
Exhibition Singles
7. Niccole Block (VC) def. Elizabeth Stege (BC), 8-0
8. Caroline Dunn-Rankin (VC) def. Nicolle Bugajski (BC), 8-1