CANTON, NY (April 25, 2010) – For the eighth consecutive year, the Vassar College women's tennis team emerged from the Liberty League Championship victorious, as the Brewers defeated Skidmore College in the championship match for the third straight year, 6-3, at St. Lawrence University on Sunday.

The Brewers, now 18-2 have won 10 straight matches and will wait until Monday, May 10 to learn of their NCAA postseason fate, but an eighth straight bid to the Division III Championship is likely. Senior Nicole Pontee continued her impressive senior season, winning at No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles to earn her second consecutive Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.

Vassar, ranked No. 22 nationally and No. 7 in the Northeast region in the most recent Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) rankings, got wins from its top positions in both doubles and singles to defeat the Thoroughbreds, ranked No. 8 in the Northeast. The Brewers took the No. 1 and No. 2 doubles matches, the No. 1 through No. 3 singles matches, as well as the No. 6 singles match to claim the victory.

“After winning our singles matches decisively against St. Lawrence yesterday, we carried that momentum into today,” said head coach Kathy Campbell. “We weren't playing cautious and we were consistently aggressive.”

In doubles, Pontee and sophomore Joy Backer won their sixth straight match at the No. 1 spot as they downed the talented Skidmore duo of Danika Robison and Nataly Mendoza, 8-4. At No. 2 doubles, the sophomore team of Jennifer Beckerman and Nicole Block also had an impressive victory, 8-5 over Laura Attley and Tory Engros, avenging a loss earlier in the season. The Thoroughbreds broke up the doubles sweep with a win at No. 3 doubles as Rachel Loeb and Brittany Trimble picked up an 8-3 victory over freshman Natalie Santiago and junior Elizabeth Anderson, playing in their first match together.

“Last time we played Skidmore [a 5-4 Vassar win], we were down 2-1 after doubles so to have that lead going into singles today was great,” said Campbell. “Our second doubles team lost to the same Skidmore players last time, and they played so much better today. They were attacking the ball and were aggressive throughout the match.”

The Brewers headed into singles with a 2-1 edge, but the Thoroughbreds won at No. 4 singles to tie the match. Vassar regained the lead as Pontee defeated Robison at No. 1 and Backer beat Attley at No. 3, with identical scores of 6-4, 6-3.

Skidmore took the No. 5 singles match, meaning Vassar needed a win at No. 2 or No. 6 singles to clinch the win. The Brewers ended up winning both, in hard-fought three set matches. Block won the fifth and decisive point at No. 6 singles, defeating Trimble in an extremely close 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 match. Since entering the singles lineup in late February, Block is 10-1. Beckerman then made the final score 6-3, showing resilience in a long three-set win, grinding out a 7-6(4) first set victory over Loeb, falling 2-6 in the second set, and rebounding with a clinching 6-2 win in the deciding set.

“This match was really closer than a 6-3 score would indicate, but it was nice to improve on our 5-4 win over Skidmore last time,” said Campbell. “We've always felt we have strength and depth and that was especially apparent today. Because of our strength and depth we can count on wins anywhere in the lineup and today we got a huge wins at the top three spots and then at No. 6 singles.”

Vassar 6, Skidmore 3

Doubles Results
1. Nicole Pontee/Joy Backer (VC) def. Danika Robison/Nataly Mendoza (SC) 8-4
2. Jennifer Beckerman/Nicole Block (VC) def. Laura Attley/Tory Engros (SC) 8-5
3. Rachel Loeb/Brittany Trimble (SC) def. Natalie Santiago/Elizabeth Anderson (VC) 8-3

Singles Results
1. Nicole Pontee (VC) def. Danika Robison (SC) 6-4, 6-3
2. Jennifer Beckerman (VC) def. Rachel Loeb (SC) 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-2
3. Joy Backer (VC) def. Laura Attley (SC) 6-4, 6-3
4. Nataly Mendoza (SC) def. Natalie Santiago (VC) 6-4, 6-0
5. Tory Engros (SC) def. Jennifer Ruther (VC) 6-4, 6-4
6. Nicole Block (VC) def. Brittany Trimble (SC) 6-4, 4-6, 7-5

Order of Finish
Doubles: 1, 3, 2
Singles: 4, 3, 1, 5, 6, 2