IRVINE, CA (March 14, 2018) -- The Vassar College women's tennis team pulled the upset on Wednesday afternoon, knocking off No. 29 Whitman College in non-conference action from University High School in Irvine, CA. 

Vassar (7-2) started hot from the get go in the upset victory, as the Brewers saw senior Courtney Geiss and freshman Meghan Rodick team together to breeze past Kattie Pak and Lori Sheng of Whitman, 8-1. The Blues (5-5) pulled even at one match apiece thanks to a win at No. 1 doubles, as the ITA Northwest Regional title winning pair of Hanna Greenberg and Andrea Gu topped sophomore Tara Edwards and junior Morgane Flournoy 8-1. 

The final doubles point proved crucial for the Brewers, and it came thanks to a late rally at the No. 2 position. Freshman Sarra Yekta and senior Dasha Ivenitsky were deadlocked with Mary Hill and Anastasiya Redkina of WC at 3-3, but VC pair powered forward to win the final five games to push VC into the 2-1 lead with an 8-3 victory. 

As the match transitioned to singles, the Blues of Whitman came on strong, at one point leading five of six singles matches as they looked to get back into the match. Whitman would tie the match score at two at No. 5, and took a 3-2 lead as Gu knocked off Edwards at No. 2 with a 6-1, 6-3 scoreline. Vassar closed the gap and tied the match at three thanks to Yekta earning a straight set win at No. 6 singles, as the Las Vegas, NV native cruised to a 6-3, 6-2 win. 

The Brewers regained their lead at No. 4 singles, as Geiss earned two big breaks in the match to top Sheng 6-4, 7-5 to come to within one victory of the team win. That would come shortly after Geiss's win, as Rodick earned her second win of the day at No. 3 singles, outlasting Greenberg in a thrilling three-setter. Rodick won the first set, but Greenberg earned a big break in the second and won 7-5 to even the match at a set apiece. In the third and final set, Rodick had no issues, taking control to clinch the win for VC with a 6-1 third set triumph. 

The final match of the day to finish was at No. 1 singles, and freshman Frances Cornwall continued to show the potential as she powered back from a 6-2 loss in the first set to knock off Mary Hill in three sets. Cornwall was down 5-0 in the second set and faced two match points at 40-15 but fended off both on Hill's serve to break and keep the match going. Cornwall then preceded to win the next 10 games, winning the second set 7-5 before taking a 3-0 lead in the third set en route to the 6-2 third set victory.

"The Vassar team battled fiercely and at the same time executed with precision en route to defeating a strong Whitman team," said head coach Kathy Campbell. "I am so proud of the way the team fought, kept their composure and made key strategic adjustments under pressure. We've competed well as a team in every match in California this trip, but today we also raised our game significantly in this tight match."

The victory was Vassar's second victory over a ranked team this year, and first win in a nine-decision match over a ranked opponent since defeating No. 38 Hardin-Simmons University nearly a year to the day March 13, 2017 in California. 

VC will continue its California trip on Saturday afternoon, battling Chapman University in Orange, CA at 1 p.m. local time in action from Erin J. Lastinger Tennis Center. 

Vassar College 6, #29 Whitman College 3
Mar 14, 2018 at Irvine, CA (University HS) 
Singles competition
1. Frances Cornwall (VCWT) def. Hill, Mary (WC-W) 2-6, 7-5, 6-2
2. Gu, Andrea (WC-W) def. Tara Edwards (VCWT) 6-1, 6-3
3. Meghan Rodick (VCWT) def. Greenberg, Hanna (WC-W) 6-4, 5-7, 6-1
4. Courtney Geiss (VCWT) def. Sheng, Lori (WC-W) 6-4, 7-5
5. Redkina, Anastasiya (WC-W) def. Morgane Flournoy (VCWT) 6-2, 6-1
6. Sarra Yekta (VCWT) def. Gilbert, Jenna (WC-W) 6-3, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. Greenberg, Hanna/Gu, Andrea (WC-W) def. Tara Edwards/Morgane Flournoy (VCWT) 8-1
2. Sarra Yekta/Dasha Ivenitsky (VCWT) def. Hill, Mary/Redkina, Anastasiya (WC-W) 8-3
3. Courtney Geiss/Meghan Rodick (VCWT) def. Pak, Kattie/Sheng, Lori (WC-W) 8-1

Match Notes
Vassar College 7-2
Whitman College 5-5; National ranking #29
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (,5,2,6,4,3,1)
T-4:00 A-43