POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (April 8, 2009) – The Vassar College men's tennis team disposed of its first Division I competition of the year with ease this afternoon, sweeping Fordham University 9-0 at the Walker Field House. It was the final home match for three Brewer seniors and they were sent off properly; no Vassar player dropped a single set or even surrendered more than four games in all nine matches.

Vassar improves to 9-6 overall and will take on Tufts University in Boston this Friday at 2:30 pm. Tufts was ranked No. 30 in the country in the last Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) poll release, and are ranked No. 10 in the Northeast Region. Vassar is No. 11 in the Northeast. Fordham is now 5-8 and will next play at Williams College, No. 5 in Division III, on Saturday, April 11 at noon.

In doubles, the newly paired No. 1 duo of senior Jeremy Rosen and junior Michael Mattelson knocked off Fordham's Dallas Harting (Paradise Valley, AZ/Pendleton School) and Eli Plangger (Saint Joseph, MI/Lakeshore) 8-4. Rosen and Mattelson first played together against No. 7 Amherst on March 28. They lost that match but have since gone 3-0 together.

“We only started playing together a few weeks ago, so it's getting better and better every day we go out and practice,” said Mattelson. “We always play well together, and it's all coming together now at the right time.”

Vassar sustained similar dominance in the other two doubles matches, winning 8-0 at number two and 8-5 at number three. Head coach Ki Kroll says he expects the team to depend on its strength in doubles play as they head into the final match of the season and the Liberty League tournament the weekend of April 18.

“I'm really pleased with our doubles,” said Kroll. “I feel like everybody's matched with the right partner and they're playing hard. There's a different intensity about all of them.”

Though Vassar swept singles play with apparent ease, the Rams forced some long rallies and maintained a high pace of play that reflected their Division I status. Still, the closest score Fordham would muster was at number four singles, where Vassar sophomore Josh Jasso defeated Ram senior Sotiris Georgiou (Flushing, NY/Townsend Harris) 6-2, 6-2.

“Playing against Fordham is always a tough match, no matter what the score is,” said Kroll. “They bring a different intensity when they play, and it's good to see my guys rise to that level along with them.”

Mattelson, who won at number one singles 6-2, 6-1, also thought his teammates were ready for Friday's challenge.

“It seems like everyone's coming to play, to prepare for the next tough matches,” said Mattelson. “Everybody seems focused and dialed in.”

“Last year we lost a really tight match to Tufts that could have gone either way,” recalled Kroll. “I'm really expecting a lot of our guys. We'll have to bring our game to compete with them. After this match, though, I'm really optimistic. I think we're getting ready to go in on Tufts.”

Along with Rosen, Vassar honored seniors Peter Ludlow and Chris Seeger.


Doubles
1.    Mattelson/Rosen (VC) def. Harting/Plangger (FU), 8-4
2.    Willner/Katz (VC) def. Georgiou/Slucky (FU), 8-0
3.    Jasso/Ludlow (VC) def. Kelly/Fukumoto (FU), 8-5

Singles
1.    Mattelson (VC) def. Harting (FU), 6-2, 6-1
2.    Willner (VC) def. Abbatiello (FU), 6-2, 6-1
3.    Katz (VC) def. Maloney (FU), 6-1, 6-0
4.    Jasso (VC) def. Georgiou (FU), 6-2, 6-2
5.    Donahue (VC) def. Slucky (FU), 6-2, 6-1
6.    Rosen (VC def. Plangger (FU), 6-0, 6-2