NEW HAVEN, CT (January 22, 2011) – With the match knotted at four points apiece, the Vassar College women's squash team's talented No. 1 player Kristine Bell took the court for the deciding match; but it wasn't Bell's day as Colby College's Kate Pistel prevailed 11-7, 11-5, 11-2 to secure the 5-4 victory for Colby Saturday morning at Yale's Brady Squash Center.

Although Vassar was outplayed at the top of the lineup by the College Squash Association No. 20 Colby, the team showed depth with close matches in the middle of the lineup and a pair of convincing wins at the bottom of the lineup. Colby found the big breaks with wins in both five-set matches.

The CSA No. 22 Brewers (2-4) host a tri-match with Northeastern University, and Columbia University on Saturday, January 29, at 10:30 a.m.

Vassar junior Nina Punukollu knocked off Jae Paik of Colby 11-3, 11-9, 11-3 at the No. 4 position. At No. 5, Vassar freshman Willow Thompson disposed of Colby's Ali Crevi 11-9, 11-5, 11-6.

The bottom of the lineup stepped up for Vassar as sophomore Jill Levine outlasted Colby's Penny Kagan 12-10, 11-9, 11-7 at No. 8 and classmate Sanam Khanna rolled through Colby's Ellie Hoyt 11-5, 11-9, 11-7.

COLBY 5, VASSAR 4
1. Kate Pistel (CC) def. Kristine Bell 11-7, 11-5, 11-2
2. Molly Parsons (CC) def. Libby Pei 11-6, 11-6, 11-5
3. Lindsey McKenna (CC) def. Meg Taylor 11-8, 11-8, 9-11, 8-11, 13-11
4. Nina Punukollu (VC) def. Jae Paik (CC) 11-3, 11-9, 11-3
5. Willow Thompson (VC) d Ali Crevi (CC) 11-9, 11-5, 11-6
6. Cordelia Cowen (CC) def. Lisa Evans (VC) 9-11, 9-11, 11-1, 11-9, 11-9
7. Lily Greenberg (CC) def. Avery Siciliano (VC) 13-11, 11-7, 11-9
8. Jill Levine (VC) def. Penny Kagen (CC) 12-10, 11-9, 11-7
9. Sanam Khanna (VC) def. Ellie Hoyt (CC) 11-5, 11-9, 11-7