NORTHAMPTON, MA (March 27, 2010) – The Vassar College women's tennis team started the 2010 Seven Sisters Championships off with two convincing wins, defeating Mount Holyoke College, 4-1, and sweeping host Smith College, 5-0, on Saturday.

The Brewers, ranked No. 22 nationally and No. 6 in the Northeast, improve to 11-2 and will play Bryn Mawr College on Sunday at 10:30 a.m., followed by a meeting with defending champion Wellesley College, ranked No. 11 in the Northeast, at 3:00 p.m. The Brewers and the Blue have played for the title in the last eight seasons, with Wellesley winning 3-2 last year.

In the first match, against Mount Holyoke, the Brewers swept singles play. Senior Nicole Pontee dropped just one game to Lyon Heather Richardson at No. 1, while sophomore Jennifer Beckerman swept Mount Holyoke's Elizabeth Tighe at No. 2. The No. 3 singles match had the most drama, as freshman Jennifer Ruther breezed through the first set, 6-0, but then dropped the next set, 2-6 to Carly Peltier. Ruther earned the win in a 10-6 tiebreaker.

In doubles, the No. 1 duo of sophomores Joy Backer and Nicole Block earned a 6-4, 6-1 win. Mount Holyoke's lone win came at No. 2 doubles, as the Vassar team of freshman Natalie Santiago and junior Alyssa Roush won the first set, 6-2, but then dropped the second set by the same score and the Lyon duo of Sarah London and My-Linh Nguyen won in a 10-6 tiebreaker.

The Brewers breezed through their match against the host Pioneers dropping a total of just six games in singles and five games in doubles.

Vassar 4, Mount Holyoke 1

Singles
1. Nicole Pontee (VC) def. Heather Richardson (MHC), 6-0, 6-1
2. Jennifer Beckerman (VC) def. Elizabeth Tighe (MHC), 6-0, 6-0
3. Jennifer Ruther (VC) def. Carly Peltier (MHC), 6-0, 2-6, (10-6)

Doubles
1. Joy Backer/Nicole Block (VC) def. Natalie Hsiang/Sarah Moore (MHC), 6-4, 6-1
2. Sarah London/My-Linh Nguyen (MHC) def. Natalie Santiago/Alyssa Roush (VC, 2-6, 6-2, (10-6)

Vassar 5, Smith 0

Singles
1. Nicole Pontee (VC) def. Jaimi Inskeep (SC), 6-0, 6-3
2. Jennifer Beckerman (VC) def. Nicole Anderson (SC), 6-1, 6-2
3. Jennifer Ruther (VC) def. Margaret Steiner (SC), 6-0, 6-0

Doubles
1. Joy Backer/Nicole Block (VC) def. Alanna Dick/Clair Oblamski (SC), 6-1, 6-3
2. Natalie Santiago/Alyssa Roush (VC) def. Nawal Mays/Eunice Zhao (SC), 6-1, 6-0