ORLANDO, FL (March 9, 2010) - The Vassar College men's tennis team defeated The College of New Jersey for the first time in program history with a five hour marathon 5-4 win Tuesday afternoon at the Lake Cane Tennis Center.

The Brewers keep the unbeaten streak alive at 9-0 and return to action on March 11 at 12:00 p.m against Carthage College. The Lions take a 2-2 record home to host Muhlenberg College on March 17 at 4:00 p.m.

Vassar uncharacteristically dropped two of three doubles matches, scoring a point at the no. 2 position as junior Max Willner teamed with freshman Andrew Guzick to knock off TCNJ's Dean Thompson and T.J. Riley 7-2 in a tiebreak. Down a break at 5-3, Willner and Guzick rattled off three straight games to go up a break at 6-5. Each team held to make it 7-6 and then three straight breaks sent the match into the deciding tiebreak. Willner and Guzick stormed through the tiebreak 7-2 to cap off the tumultuous match.

“I think we can play better in doubles,” said head coach Ki Kroll, “but it gave us a chance to show that we can count on singles when it matters.”

Down 2-1 heading into singles, the Brewers won the minimum four matches to secure the victory 5-4. The Brewers captured the first three singles matches to race out to a 4-2 lead. Michael Mattelson knocked off Steven Fernandez (TCNJ) 6-1, 6-4 at the no. 1 spot. At no. 2 singles, Ben Guzick outclassed Stewart Fernandez 6-1, 6-1. Andrew Guzick rounded out the top three with a 6-2, 7-5 win over Dean Thompson.

TCNJ's Keith Goldstein defeated Vassar's Greg Katz 6-3, 6-4 at the no. 5 spot to cut the Brewer lead to 4-3.

Willner clinched the match for the Brewers with a spectacular comeback victory at no. 4 singles position against TCNJ's John Yu. After losing the first set 7-5, Willner overcame a 5-2 deficit, rolling for five straight games to even the match at one set apiece. Willner cruised for a 6-2 win in the third.

“This was a huge win for Max,” said Kroll. "He showed some guts to pull it out for us.”

Vassar 5, TCNJ 4

DOUBLES:

1) Steven Fernandez/ Stewart Fernandez (TCNJ) def. Mike Mattelson/ Ben Guzick (VC) 8-5
2) Max Willner/ Andrew Guzick (VC) def. Dean Thompson/ T.J. Riley (TCNJ) 9-8²
3) Dan Lee/ Jon Yu (TCNJ) def. Greg Katz/ Josh Jasso (VC) 9-8⁴

SINGLES:

1) Mike Mattelson (VC) def. Steven Fernandez (TCNJ) 6-1, 6-4
2) Ben Guzick (VC) def. Stewart Fernandez (TCNJ) 6-1, 6-1
3) Andrew Guzick (VC) def. Dean Thompson (TCNJ) 6-2, 7-5
4) Max Willner (VC) def. Jon Yu (TCNJ) 5-7, 7-5, 6-2
5) Keith Goldstein (TCNJ) def. Greg Katz (VC) 6-3, 6-4
6) Dan Lee (TCNJ) def. Jeremy Arthur (VC) 7-6⁵, 3-6, (10-2)