ATLANTA, GA (May 14, 2010) – The Vassar College women's tennis team kicked off its eight straight trip to the NCAA Division III Team Championships with a convincing 5-0 win over Transylvania University on Friday at Emory University, setting up a second round match against No. 6 nationally ranked Washington & Lee.

The Brewers (19-2), who are ranked No. 17 nationally, faced a Pioneer (14-7) team in its first ever NCAA postseason appearance. Vassar will play Washington & Lee on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.

Vassar cruised through doubles play, allowing no more than three games in any match. The No. 1 doubles team of senior Nicole Pontee and sophomore Joy Backer and the No. 3 duo of freshmen Natalie Santiago and Melanie Horn both picked up 8-3 wins, while the No. 2 team of sophomores Jennifer Beckerman and Nicole Block swept their Transylvania opponents.

Backer breezed to Vassar's first win in singles with a 6-0, 6-0 sweep of Katie Boone at the No. 3 spot and Block clinched the win with a similarly convincing 6-1, 6-0 win over Andrea Mong at No. 6. Backer improved to 18-5 while Block is now 11-1. The Brewers won the first set in each of the other four matches, with No. 4 freshman Jennifer Ruther just one game away from a win and No. 2 Beckerman needing just three games to win.

Vassar 5, Transylvania 0

Doubles
1. Nicole Pontee/Joy Backer (VC) def. Kelsey Fulkerson/Sarah Ridley (TU), 8-3
2. Jennifer Beckerman/Nicole Block (VC) def. Stephanie Townsend/Andrea Mong (TU), 8-0
3. Natalie Santiago/Melanie Horn (VC) def. Kaitlyn Hinzy/Katie Moore (TU), 8-3

Singles
1. Nicole Pontee (VC) leading Kelsey Fulkerson (TU), 6-4
2. Jennifer Beckerman (VC) leading Sarah Ridley (TU), 6-2, 3-0
3. Joy Backer (VC) def. Katie Boone (TU), 6-0, 6-0
4. Natalie Santiago (VC) leading Stephanie Townsend (TU), 6-2
5. Jennifer Ruther (VC) leading Kaitlyn Hinzy (TU), 6-0, 5-0
6. Nicole Block (VC) def. Andrea Mong (TU), 6-1, 6-0

Order of Finish
Doubles: 2, 1, 3    Singles: 3, 6

A Glimpse: Vassar vs. Washington & Lee, May 15 at 2:00 p.m. Vassar Wash & Lee Record 19-2 18-6 National Ranking 17 6 Regional Ranking 7 (Northeast) 1 (Atlantic South) NCAA Trips 10th (8th consecutive) 18th (17th consecutive) National Championship Titles ---- 1 (2007), 5-time runners-up National Ranked Players Pontee (12) Yeatman (26) Regionally Ranked (S) Pontee (6) Caire (3)   Beckerman (24) Yeatman (8)     Morris (25) Regionally Ranked (D) Pontee/Backer (7) Caire/Yeatman (2)     Morris/Lukas (11) Common Opponents Skidmore (W 5-4, W 6-3) Skidmore (W 7-2)   Williams (L 0-9) Williams (L 3-6)

Projected Lineups (Subject to change: based on most recent match) Vassar Wash & Lee Singles No. 1 Pontee (25-3) Caire (6-5) No. 2 Beckerman (20-5) Yeatman (12-4) No. 3 Backer (18-5) Lukas (13-7) No. 4 Santiago (13-5) Morris (9-12) No. 5 Ruther (20-3) Snyder (13-6) No. 6 Block (11-1) Brzeski (20-6) Doubles No. 1 Pontee/Backer (18-5) Caire/Yeatman (7-3) No. 2 Beckerman/Block (18-6) Lukas/Morris (11-4) No. 3 Santiago/Horn (4-2) Sadler/Brzeski (2-1)