CANTON, NY (April 24, 2010) – For the third straight year, the Liberty League Women's Tennis Championship will come down to Vassar College and Skidmore College. The No. 1 Brewers defeated host No. 4 St. Lawrence University, 8-1, on Saturday and will face the No. 2 Thoroughbreds in the championship match on Sunday at 11:00 a.m.

The Brewers, who have now won nine straight matches to improve to 17-2, will look to claim their eighth consecutive title against Skidmore. Vassar, ranked No. 22 nationally and No. 7 in the Northeast region in the most recent Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) rankings, narrowly defeated the Thoroughbreds, ranked No. 8 in the Northeast, 5-4 earlier in the season.

Against St. Lawrence, Vassar picked up wins at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles to head into singles play with a 2-1 advantage, and then swept singles play in convincing fashion, as No. 1 singles was the only closely contested match.

In doubles play, the No. 1 duo of senior Nicole Pontee and sophomore Joy Backer defeated Stephanie Finn and Casey Gilman, 8-4, while the sophomore No. 2 team of Jennifer Beckerman and Nicole Block breezed to an 8-1 win over Shannon Murphy and Chelsea Hubbell. The Saints recorded their lone win at No. 3 doubles as Elizabeth Ronty and Elizabeth Geer won a tight 8-5 match over freshmen Natalie Santiago and Melanie Horn.

Pontee and Finn's match at No. 1 singles was the only tight singles decision of the day, as Pontee dropped the first set, 6-4, but rebounded for a 6-3 win in the second set, and then won a 10-3 superbreaker to improve to 24-3 in singles play.

In the No. 2 through No. 6 singles matches, no Brewer dropped more than three games, allowing just nine games to St. Lawrence in those five matches.

Vassar 8, St. Lawrence 1

Doubles Results
1. Nicole Pontee/Joy Backer (VASSAR) def. Stephanie Finn/Casey Gilman (SLU) 8-4
2. Jennifer Beckerman/Nicole Block (VASSAR) def. Shannon Murphy/Chelsea Hubbell (SLU) 8-1
3. Elizabeth Ronty/Elizabeth Geer (SLU) def. Natalie Santiago/Melanie Horn (VASSAR) 8-5

Singles Results
1. Nicole Pontee (VASSAR) def. Stephanie Finn (SLU) 4-6, 6-3, (10-3)
2. Jennifer Beckerman (VASSAR) def. Casey Gilman (SLU) 6-1, 6-1
3. Joy Backer (VASSAR) def. Chelsea Hubbell (SLU) 6-1, 6-0
4. Natalie Santiago (VASSAR) def. Shannon Murphy (SLU) 6-1, 6-1
5. Jennifer Ruther (VASSAR) def. Elizabeth Geer (SLU) 6-1, 6-0
6. Nicole Block (VASSAR) def. Sara Willet (SLU) 6-0, 6-3
Exhibition Singles
7. Barry Edgar (SLU) def. Elizabeth Anderson (VASSAR), 9-7