POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (February 6, 2010) – For the fourth consecutive year it was Vassar College and Mount Holyoke College in the final match of the Seven Sisters Championship and also for the fourth consecutive year Mount Holyoke claimed the title, by a score of 7-2 on Saturday at Kenyon Hall.

The Brewers fall to 6-5 and will conclude the regular season hosting the Vassar Challenge next Saturday, against Connecticut College, Welseyan University, and Columbia University. The Lyons improve to 13-5. In the third place match, Smith College defeated Wellesley College, 7-2. For complete Seven Sisters Championship results, click here.

Vassar, ranked No. 17 in the most recent College Squash Association (CSA) rankings, showed improvement on its 9-0 loss at last year's Seven Sisters Championship, but No. 11 Mount Holyoke would not be unseated as Seven Sisters Champions.

“I knew we could play Mount Holyoke close today, but they came in with a much more assertive attitude than we did,” said head coach Jane Parker. “Mount Holyoke really deserved to win. We weren't able to turn our intensity up a level to beat a strong team like that.”

Although Vassar senior Emilie Kraft dropped her match at No. 1, it was an impressive battle against Mount Holyoke's Vidushi Gurunada, ranked No. 54 in the most recent CSA Individual rankings. Kraft took Gurunada deep into every game, falling 12-10, 12-10, 11-7.

The Brewers received wins from their hottest players, sophomore No. 6 Meg Taylor and freshman No. 7 Alexa Lichtenstein who have both won six straight matches and are 10-1 on the season.

“Meg and Alexa are really on another level right now,” said Parker. “Meg has taken a huge leap forward lately and she's playing really solid squash. Alexa is our marathon woman, she always seems to go to five games and she's great at coming back from two games down.”

Lichtenstein did just that on Saturday, with the comeback win against Lila Khan, 5-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-8, 12-10. Taylor went to four games in her win, defeating Paulina Rajek, 9-11, 11-4, 11-4, 11-8.

The Lyons earned wins at Nos. 1-5, as Gurunada, Laura Robinson, Shara Robertson, Laurian Lue Yen, and Tempest Bowden all picked up sweeps.

In the opening match of the 2010 Seven Sisters Championship, No. 2 Vassar earned a quick 9-0 victory over No. 3 Smith as the Brewers swept every position. Senior No. 4 Hope Blinkoff and sophomore No. 9 Nina Punukollu were particularly dominant for Vassar, as each dropped just three points in their wins.

Mount Holyoke 7, Vassar 2
1.        Vidushi Gurunada (MHC) Emilie Kraft (VC), 3-0 (12-10, 12-10, 11-7)
2.        Laura Robinson (MHC) def. Kristine Bell (VC), 3-0 (11-8, 11-8, 11-7)
3.        Shara Robertson (MHC) def. Libby Pei (VC), 3-0 (11-6, 11-5, 11-5)
4.        Laurian Lue Yen (MHC) def. Caitlin Ly (VC), 3-0 (12-10, 11-3, 11-5)
5.        Tempest Bowden (MHC) def. Hope Blinkoff (VC), 3-0 (11-4, 11-6, 11-6)
6.        Meg Taylor (VC) def. Paulina Rajek (MHC), 3-1 (9-11, 11-4, 11-4, 11-8)
7.        Alexa Lichtenstein (VC) def. Lila Khan (MHC), 3-2 (5-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-8, 12-10)
8.        Hillela Simpson (MHC) def. Olivia Mak (VC), 3-0 (11-4, 11-3, 11-6)
9.        Michelle Zagardo (MHC) def. Nina Punukollu (VC), 3-1 (11-6, 11-5, 8-11, 11-4)

Exhibition:
10. Kathryn Brummer (MHC) def. Jill Levine (VC), 3-0 (11-3, 11-9, 11-6)

Vassar 9, Smith 0

1. Emilie Kraft (VC) def. Shanita Williams (SC), 3-0 (11-5, 11-1, 11-3)
2. Kristine Bell (VC) def. Meg Oliverio (SC), 3-0 (11-2, 11-5, 11-3)
3. Libby Pei (VC) def. Clair Oblamski (SC), 3-0 (11-8, 11-2, 11-5)
4. Caitlin Ly (VC) def. Joanne Poon (SC), 3-0 (11-5, 11-5, 11-3)
5. Hope Blinkoff (VC) def. Elizabeth Guyman (SC), 3-0 (11-3, 11-0, 11-0)
6. Meg Taylor (VC) def. Anna Reznickova (SC), 3-0 (11-4, 11-0, 11-2)
7. Alexa Lichtenstein (VC) def. Jasmine Wallas (SC), 3-0 (11-8, 11-4, 11-1)
8. Olivia Mak (VC) Catriona Blunt (SC), 3-0 (11-2, 11-3, 11-3)
9. Nina Punukollu (VC) def. Elena Plesco (SC), 3-0 (11-0, 11-2, 11-1)

Exhibition:
10. Jill Levine (VC) def. Andrea Shang (SC), 3-0 (11-5, 11-2, 11-6)
11. Su Fu (SC) def. Sanam Khanna (VC), 3-2 (11-2, 5-11, 5-11, 11-1, 11-4)
12. Kelsey Radwilowicz (SC) def. Caroline Symons (VC), 3-0 (11-8, 11-8, 11-8


2010 Seven Sisters Squash All-Tournament Team
Vidushi Gurunada, Mount Holyoke
Laura Robinson, Mount Holyoke
Shara Robertson, Mount Holyoke
Laurian Lue Yen, Mount Holyoke
Tempest Bowden, Mount Holyoke
Meg Taylor, Vassar
Alexa Lichtenstein, Vassar
Hillela Simpson, Mount Holyoke
Michelle Zagardo, Mount Holyoke