POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (March 8, 2016) - The Vassar College men's tennis team will travel to the Golden State for spring break competition that spans from March 13-19. The men usually play four matches while in Southern California; however, this year a fifth was added.

Last Time Out
The Brewers fell 6-3 to the Violets of New York University on March 6. With the loss, the team is now 4-5 and remains 1-1 in Liberty League play.

On Last Year's Trip
Vassar came out even, 2-2, after last year's California trip. The men started the week slowly, as Chapman University and California Lutheran University both handed the team losses. Not to be discouraged, the Brewers then defeated Whittier College and George Fox University.

Competition
To begin competition, Vassar will take on Whittier and the always-challenging Amherst College in a double-header on March 13. Then on the 16^th, the team will look to avenge its loss to Chapman University. Trinity College will follow on 17^th, and Tufts University will end the California stint for the Brewers on the 19^th.

Opponent: Whittier College (1-4)
Links: (Men's Tennis Home Page) (Roster) (Schedule) (Stats)
Date and Time: Sunday, March 13 at 10 a.m.
Location: Whittier, CA

A Look at the Poets
Whittier is having a tough season as of late and currently hold a 1-4 record. Last year, the Poets faced similar difficulties, ending the season with a losing record. So far this season, seven different Poets have picked up exactly one victory in singles play. In doubles, Troy Chavez and Tyler Linscott lead the way with a 3-2 overall record, having lost their most recent match. Shogo Shimizu also has a 3-2 record in doubles, having gone 1-1 with David Stanko and 2-1 with Ian Ross.

The Whittier men's tennis website it currently limited and does not give statistics from previous years.

Last Meeting
Vassar last squared off against Whittier on March 18, 2015, when the Brewers captured a 7-2 victory. The Brewers took a 2-1 edge in doubles before winning five of six in singles to secure the team victory. Juan Felipe Laso and Alexander Luckmann cruised to a victory at No. 3 doubles, while Nick Litsky and Daniel Cooper secured a No. 1 doubles victory for the Brewers. Litsky, Laso, Luckmann, Cooper and Christian Phelps earned wins for Vassar in singles competition.

Opponent: Amherst College (0-0)
Links: (Men's Tennis Home Page) (Roster) (Schedule)
Date and Time: Sunday, March 13 at 4 p.m.
Location: Claremont, CA

A Look at Amherst
Amherst's trip to California will kick off its spring season. Last year the team was ranked seventh nationally and has since fallen to eighth. The men finished 21-6 overall and 8-0 in conference play last season, proving difficult competition for the Brewers.
Michael Solimano earned an All-American title in singles last year after winning ITAs and almost nabbed the title in doubles as well, falling in the finals with partner Aaron Revzin. The pair came back with a vengeance this past fall, defeating teammates Ben Fife and Zach Bessette in the ITA Final.

Last Meeting
Vassar hasn't met Amherst since 2013, when the Brewers struggled in an 8-1 loss. Andrew Guzick and Daniel Cooper battled to a decisive 8-6 win over Amherst's No. 1 pair for the Brewers' only point. Guzick came close at the No. 1 spot in singles but his opponent pulled ahead in the second set. Dan Freeman also fought solidly for the No. 2 singles spot, but ultimately fell to his opponent.

Opponent: Chapman University (1-3)
Links: (Men's Tennis Home Page)(Roster) (Schedule) (Stats)
Date and Time: Wednesday, March 16 at 1 p.m.
Location: Orange, CA

A Look at the Panthers
Chapman is currently 1-3 overall and has yet to play a conference match. The team breezed by Linfield College on Feb. 5 with a 9-0 bagel, but couldn't carry the momentum against Brandeis University, University of California Santa Cruz nor Christopher Newport, respectively. Before the Panthers face the Brewers, they will square off against the Amherst Purple & White.
Chapman most recently fell 6-3 to Christopher Newport on Feb. 28. Brett Buford and Charlie Werman won the first doubles match, defeating Steven Boslet and Chiraag Shetty 8-4. Buford also won his singles match, defeating David Reed in the No. 1 spot, 6-4, 6-3. Buford and Hunter Morris both lead the Panthers with 2-2 singles records.

Last Meeting
Vassar last laced up against Chapman on March 16, 2015. The Panthers secured an 8-1 victory with Laso picking up the Brewers' lone victory at No. 5 singles. Chapman swept the doubles matches and earned five of six wins at singles. Litsky and Cooper came closet at No. 1 doubles, but ultimately fell in 8-6. Evan Udine came close on the No. 4 singles court, but was not able to cinch the win.
Opponent: Trinity College (Conn.) (1-0)
Links: (Men's Tennis Home Page)(Roster)(Schedule)(Stats)
Date and Time: Wednesday, March 17 at 3 p.m.
Location: Claremont, CA

A Look at the Bantams
Trinity came into the spring season ranked No. 5 in the Northeast and No. 19 nationally according to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA). Although the team has not seen the court competitively since October of last year, the Bantams hope to live up to their reputation when they take on Bowdoin College and Sewanee, the University of the South, before tackling the Vassar on March 17.

Last Meeting
Vassar will look to rebuke its tough loss against Trinity from 2011 when the Brewers fell 7-2. Ben Guzick and Dan Freeman secured wins by retirement at No. 1 and No. 3 singles, respectively. Vassar's Max Willner fought hard against Trinity's Bobby Cocanougher, but ultimately lost 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 14-12.

Opponent: Tufts University (0-0)
Links: (Men's Tennis Home Page)(Roster)(Schedule)(Stats)
Date and Time: Wednesday, March 19 at 9 a.m.
Location: Claremont, CA

A Look at the Jumbos
Tufts last played on Oct. 25 at the Boston Invitational and showed dominance in the round-robin tournament. Jay Glickman and Griffin Brockman stole wins in singles matches against Boston University over the tournament weekend. Likewise, doubles pair Zain Ali and Nik Telkedzshiev overcame Middlebury College. Vassar will be Tufts' first competition when the team travels to Southern California.

Last Meeting
Vassar and Tufts most recently competed in 2011, with the Jumbos coming out on top 6-3. Andrew Guzick and Max Willner secured a point for Vassar with an 8-6 victory at No. 2 doubles. In singles competition, Ben Guzick dropped his first set 6-3 before storming back to win 6-3 and then 6-2 in the tiebreaker. Andrew Guzick also defeated his opponent at No. 2 doubles in an exciting match, 6-7 (7-9), 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-2).

Looking Ahead
Vassar will enter an extended hiatus from competition when the team returns from California. The Brewers will next compete against Yeshiva University at the Josselyn Tennis Courts in Poughkeepsie on April 3 at 1 p.m.