WEST POINT, NY (February 13, 2016) — In the spring season opener Saturday, the Vassar College women's tennis team fell 7-0 to Division I Army West Point on the road.

With the loss, the Brewers fall to 2-1, while the Black Knights improve to 5-2.

Since the match took place in West Point, NY, Division I rules were in effect. In doubles, the matches were played to six points instead of eight, the traditional Division III precedent. 

"It adds a little more pressure, in that the matches are so short," coach Bruce Levine said.

Army jumped out to a 3-0 lead with doubles, but not without Vassar putting up a good fight. In No. 1 doubles, Hanna McGuire (Manhattan Beach, CA/Mira Costa) and Shayna Becker (Sherman Oaks, CA/University) battled the whole way in their 6-4 loss to Rugile Valuniate and Genevieve McCormick.

"They were in it all the way," Levine said. "They did a great job, so I was really pleased with that."

Morgan Fitzgerald (Encinitas, CA/Cal Coast Academy) and Kate Christensen (Los Angeles, CA/Connections Academy) lost 6-2 to Nancy Porter and Kirby Einck in No. 2 doubles, while Morgane Flournoy (Grosse Pointe, MI/Grosse Pointe South) and Kelsey Van Noy (Houston, TX/Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart) fell 6-1 to Sara Martorelli and Caroline Lorenzini in the third doubles match. 

"All the work that all the kids have put in has shown," Levine said.

Perhaps the most exciting match in the singles competition came when Flournoy fought Leslie Frankland for the No. 6 spot. Flournoy fell in the first game 6-4, came back to win the second game 6-4, but lost in a tough tiebreaker, 10-4.

"Kate Christensen at one also played a tough match," Levine said.

Christensen fell, 6-2, 6-4, to McCormick in a close competition for No. 1, and Becker lost 6-4, 6-1, in another hard-fought battle to Sera Martorelli for No. 5. Courtney Geiss (Charleston, SC/Laurel Springs School) fell, 6-1, 6-0, to Einck for No. 2, Van Noy lost, 6-0, 6-1, to Bridget Guenard for No. 3 and Morgan Fitzgerald fell, 6-0, 6-1, for No. 4.

"My big thing was get in there, play hard and play well, and they did. They all did that," Levine said. "Although we walked away with no points and no wins, I feel really good about the progress we've made as a team the past three weeks."

The Vassar women's tennis team hopes to continue its progress at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA on Saturday, Feb. 20 at 12 p.m.