Poughkeepsie, NY – The top seeded #32 Vassar College Women's Tennis teams begins its quest for a Liberty League Championship Saturday afternoon when it takes on fifth seeded Union in the Semifinal Round of the league championship tournament. Matches with the Garnet Chargers are set to begin at 2:15 at the Reis Tennis Center on the campus of Cornell University with Live Scoring available for those unable to attend.
Vassar earned the top seed in the 2024 championship after posting a 15-3 overall record over the course of the regular season, including an unbeaten 8-0 mark against Liberty League rivals. Union enters Saturday's contest at 11-7 following an upset of fourth seeded St. Lawrence on Friday.
Doubles
- The Brewers dominated doubles play over the course of the regular season, posting a 37-13 mark (.740) overall and a 14-3 (.824) record against conference foes.
- The top pair of Erin McCusker (Norton, MA) and Macey Dowd (Orinda, CA) posted a 10-7 mark overall for the Brewers.
- Iris Li and First Year Maddie Kirby (Davidson, NC) hold a 12-4 record, with 11 victories coming at the second position.
- Elyse Duley (Charlotte, NC) and Ananya Krishnan (Chesterbrook, PA) has been a force at the third slot and enter the championship on an 11-match winning streak and with a 14-2 record.
Singles
- Like doubles, the Brewers have controlled the singles competition in 2023-24, holding a 79-22 record (.782) overall and a 31-4 (.886) mark against conference opponents.
- McCusker, who enters the championship ranked #32 in the ITA Singles National Poll, holds a 14-3 record in singles play and is 8-2 in her last 10 decisions.
- Dowd has been impressive at the second position for Vassar, posting a 13-4 mark at the second position.
- Li holds a 12-3 record heading into Saturday's contest with each win coming at the third position for the Brewers.
- Krishnan has won her last 11 singles decisions and begins play on Saturday with a 14-2 record, highlighted by a 7-0 mark at the fourth position.
- Kirby is in the midst of a standout rookie season for Vassar and holds a 12-5 record, including a 6-2 mark at the fifth flight.
- Rounding out the lineup for Vassar is Duley who has won 10 straight decisions and holds an 11-4 mark with 10 of those victories coming at the sixth position.
Regular Season Vs. Union
- The Brewers topped Union 8-1 at home on April 20, sweeping the doubles matches and taking five of the six singles contests.
- The top doubles pair of McCusker and Dowd scored an 8-3 victory.
- The second pair of Li and Kirby won by an identical 8-3 score.
- Vassar's third pair of Krishnan and Duley battled to an 8-6 victory.
- In singles play it was McCusker, Li, Krishnan, Kirby and Duley earing wins for the Brewers.
Recent History Vs. Union
- The Brewers are 36-3 against Union dating back to 1988.
- Vassar has won 28 straight matches against the Garnet Chargers.
- Vassar's last defeat at the hands of the Garnet Charges came in a 6-3 decision on September 12, 1999.
Recent Championship History
- Vassar has won nine Liberty League Championships and is in search of its first title since 2010.
- The Brewers have been the runner-up in the conference championship in each of the last six seasons with each championship match defeat at the hands of Skidmore.
- The Brewers won seven straight league crowns from 2004-2010.
What's At Stake
- With a win on Saturday, Vassar will appear in its seventh straight Liberty League title match.
