POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (October 5, 2009) – Following a successful weekend for Vassar tennis, players representing both the men’s and women’s teams earned weekly Liberty League awards on Monday. Senior
Michael Mattelson was named the Performer of the Week after he made history for the men’s tennis program, winning the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Northeast Singles Championship. Freshman teammate
Andrew Guzick, who also had a successful showing at the ITA Championship, was named the Rookie of the Week. Representing women’s tennis was senior
Nicole Pontee, who led her team to a sweep of New York University with wins at No. 1 singles and doubles and was named the Performer of the Week.
Michael Mattelson, Senior, Men's Tennis Performer of the Week
With six wins in three days, Mattelson won the ITA Northeast tennis championship, becoming the first singles player from Vassar College to qualify for the Small College Championships which will be held in Mobile, Alabama on October 15-18. Impressively, Mattelson defeated NYU's Patrick Whitner from NYU 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, in a rematch of the 2008 ITA final, to win one of eight Division III Regional qualifying tournaments. Mattelson nearly made the National Small College Championship as a doubles participant as well. He and freshman teammate Andrew Guzick advanced to Sunday’s semifinal, but were upended by top-seeded Taylor Borda and Josh Rifkin of Ithaca, 8-1.
Mattelson continues to rake in the Liberty League awards, with three already this season, bringing his career total to ten to go along with five Rookie of the Week awards.
Andrew Guzick, Freshman, Men's Tennis Rookie of the Week
In his first-ever ITA Northeast Tournament, Guzick won three singles matches as the No. 4 seed and advanced to the quarterfinals of one of eight Division III Regional qualifying tournaments. In the quarters, he was defeated by Vassar teammate Max Willner, 6-2, 6-4. In doubles, Guzick and Mattelson advanced to the semifinals where they were defeated by the eventual champion Ithaca team.
This is Guzick’s third Rookie of the Week award.
Nicole Pontee, Senior, Women's Tennis Performer of the Week
Pontee earned convincing wins at No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles for the Brewers this weekend in Vassar's 9-0 sweep of NYU. At singles, Pontee downed Elizabeth Stachtiaris, 6-0, 6-2 and in doubles play, Pontee and partner Joy Backer earned a dominant 8-0 win. Pontee is now 5-1 on the season in singles play.
This is Pontee’s second Performer of the Week award, raising her career total to 17 to go with seven Rookie of the Week awards. As a freshman she was the Liberty League Rookie of the Year, and the Player of the Year as a sophomore and a junior. In the most recent Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) rankings, Pontee is ranked No. 12 nationally and No. 4 in the Northeast Region.