ITHACA, NY (May 7, 2016) — The No. 37 Vassar College women's tennis team saw its season come to an end against No. 26 Skidmore College in the semifinals of the Liberty League Championships in Ithaca, NY on Saturday, 5-1.
"I think the season went really well overall," coach Bruce Levine said. "I told the team today that I think we went much further and did much more than most people expected us to do."
With that, the Brewers finish their season 13-8 overall and 6-2 in conference play, while the Thoroughbreds move onto the championship game with a 10-8 and 7-1 mark. Skidmore's lone conference loss came against Vassar in early April.
"We're a young team, and here we went and won Seven Sisters, beat Skidmore head-to-head," Levine said. "I've got not complaints. These kids came a long way in a short period of time, they did a lot of work and improved. The future's bright for them."
Vassar women's tennis graduates two seniors in Lauren Stauffer and Kelsey Van Noy, but returns a solid core of young talent.
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Skidmore quickly jumped out to an early lead by sweeping doubles. All-American doubles duo Madie Benn and Michelle Fuca took down Hanna McGuire and Shayna Becker at one, 8-2. Then Caroline Hobbs and Laura Swenson topped Morgane Flournoy and Van Noy at three, 8-5. Finally, Alexa Goldberg and Brianna Greene edged Morgan Fitzgerald and Kate Christensen at two, 9-7.
"When you lose all three doubles and turn around and have to play singles and play only to decision, which is five points, you're looking uphill," Levine said. "It's tough. Credit to the kids. We all thought we could do it."
Moving onto singles, Becker put the Brewers on the board against Erica Meno at four by retirement, 6-2, 1-0. But Greene picked up her second win of the day with a 6-3, 6-0 win over Courtney Geiss at two. Then at five, Swenson took down Connie Yoo, 6-2, 6-0, for the team win.
All other matches went unfinished.
Although the Brewers saw their season end at the hands of the Thoroughbreds, Levine is still proud of them for what they've accomplished.
"It was a great season," Levine said. "I'll always look back at it with very fond memories and a proud heart, knowing that I thought we did very well."
—VASSAR—
