Vassar College Athletics

WILLIAMSTOWN, MA (September 27, 2009) – Following a delay of nearly three hours, the Vassar College women’s tennis team finally took the court to face off against the defending Division III national champion Williams College on Sunday. The Ephs showed why they are two-time defending champions and ranked No. 1 in Division III, dispatching the 21st ranked Brewers, 9-0.

The finals of the men’s ITA New England Championship and inclement weather turned the first dual match of the season for both teams into a late Sunday night.

Williams and Vassar last saw each other in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in May as the Ephs picked up 6-1 victory in that match en route to winning their second consecutive national championship. With six underclassmen in the lineup, it was a great opportunity for Vassar to battle one of the nation’s top teams early in the season before returning home to close out the fall season against New York University (10/3), SUNY New-Paltz (10/7), and Union College (10/10). For junior Alyssa Roush and freshmen Melanie Horn, Jennifer Ruther and Natalie Santiago, Sunday represented their first collegiate competition.

The marquee match of the day came at first singles where a pair of All-Americans in the Ephs’ Grace Baljon and Brewer senior Nicole Pontee met. In the final Division III ITA National Rankings of the 2008-09 season, Baljon was ranked No. 11 and Pontee No. 12. Last week, Pontee advanced all the way to the semifinals of the ITA tournament last week before falling to top-seeded Julia Browne of Tufts. On Sunday, Pontee won the opening set, but Baljon was able to rally for a convincing three-set victory 4-6, 6-1, 6-0.

Vassar’s No. 1 doubles team of senior Pontee and sophomore Joy Backer faced a tough test against the Ephs duo of Taylor French and Baljon, who advanced to the championship of the ITA New England Championships last weekend. Playing in just their second match as a team, Pontee and Backer dropped an 8-5 match.

In other doubles play, the No. 2 doubles team of sophomores Jennifer Beckerman and Nicole Block dropped an 8-3 match to Nikki Reich and Kristin Alotta while Santiago and junior Caroline Dunn-Rankin fell to Lucy Marchese and Nancy Worley, 8-4, at No. 3 singles.

The Ephs were able to win the remaining eight matches all in straight sets. At No. 2 singles, Beckerman went up against a formidable opponent in regional champion Alotta, dropping a 6-1, 6-0 decision.

Williams 9, Vassar 0

Doubles
1. Taylor French/Grace Baljon (WC) def. Nicole Pontee/Joy Backer (VC), 8-5
2. Nikki Reich/Kristin Alotta (WC) def. Jennifer Beckerman/Nicole Block (VC), 8-3
3. Lucy Marchese/Nancy Worley (WC) def. Natalie Santiago/Caroline Dunn-Rankin (VC), 8-4

Exhibition Doubles
1. Ashley Parsons/Caroline Capute (WC) def. Elizabeth Anderson/Alyssa Roush (VC), 8-1
2. Genny Loomis/Veranika Li (WC) def. Melanie Horn/Jennifer Ruther (VC), 8-4

Singles
1. Grace Baljon (WC) def. Nicole Pontee (VC), 4-6, 6-1, 6-0
2. Kristin Alotta (WC) def. Jennifer Beckerman (VC), 6-1, 6-0
3. Nikki Reich (WC) def. Joy Backer (VC), 6-2, 6-2
4. Lucy Marchese (WC) def. Elizabeth Anderson (VC), 6-2, 6-1
5. Nancy Worley (WC) def. Jennifer Ruther (VC), 6-2, 6-3
6. Ashley Parsons (WC) def. Natalie Santiago (VC), 6-1, 6-2

Exhibition Singles
1. Caroline Capute (WC) def. Nicole Block (VC), 6-2, 6-1
2. Taylor French (WC) def. Caroline Dunn-Rankin (VC), 6-4, 6-1
3. Genny Loomis (WC) def. Alyssa Roush (VC), 6-1, 6-4
4. Veranika Li (WC) def. Melanie Horn (VC), 6-1, 6-0