POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (November 30, 2009) – Following a successful fall season, the Vassar College women’s team was recognized in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) preseason poll with a No. 21 national ranking out of 380 teams in Division III, and a No. 6 ranking in the Northeast region, out of 110 teams.
The Brewers retain the No. 21 national ranking they received following the 2008-09 season, and move from No. 7 to No. 6 in a talent-heavy Northeast region that features the nation’s top two teams, No. 1 Amherst College and No. 2 Williams College. Additionally, senior
Nicole Pontee received a No. 6 ranking in the Northeast region, while the doubles team of Pontee and sophomore
Joy Backer is ranked No. 7. National individual and doubles rankings are not released until the spring.
The preseason rankings, released on November 10, are based on the results of the 2009 fall season. The Brewers went 3-1 in the fall, with their sole loss coming to Williams. Vassar also performed well at the ITA New England Regional Championships and the New York State Championships. At the ITA Championship from September 18-20, Pontee advanced to the semifinals in singles play. The Brewers took home four titles at the NYS Championships, from October 16-18, as Pontee defended her titles at No. 1 singles and teamed with Backer at No. 1 doubles, while freshman
Jennifer Ruther won the No. 5 singles flight, and the sophomore duo of
Jennifer Beckerman and
Nicole Block won the No. 2 doubles title.
Pontee, who was ranked No. 12 in the final 2008-09 national rankings, was 10-2 in singles play during the fall, moving to a career singles record of 81-20. In their first season playing together, Pontee and Backer went 7-2 at doubles.