Williams Sweeps Vassar for Sixth Tennis Victory
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The defending champion Ephs, however, showed few signs of ill effect from the delay, sweeping Vassar 9-0 en route to their sixth consecutive victory, a streak that dates back to last spring.
Head coach Allison Swain who described the contest as "the longest match in the history of matches," was impressed by the way the Ephs started strong and were flexible despite the adverse conditions. They wasted no time in asserting themselves against the 21st ranked Brewers. The doubles pair of sophomore Taylor French and senior Grace Baljon, fresh off a runner-up performance at the regional championships, defeated Vassar's top team of Nicole Pontee and Joy Backer 8-5.
Williams dominated the other four doubles matches, dropping only 12 games in four matches. Junior Nikki Reich and senior Kristin Alotta defeated Jennifer Beckerman and Nicole Block 8-3. Lucy Marchese, a junior, and first-year Nancy Worley bested Natalie Santiago and Caroline Dunn-Rankin 8-4. Senior co- captain Ashley Parsons and sophomore Caroline Capute beat Elizabeth Anderson and Allysa Roush 8-1, and senior Genny Loomis 2010 and first-year Veranika Li rounded out the doubles action with an 8-4 victory over Melanie Horn and Jennifer Ruther.
The marquee match of the day came at first singles when a pair of All- Americans in the Ephs' Grace Baljon and the Brewer's senior Nicole Pontee met. Pontee advanced all the way to the semifinals of the ITA tournament last week before falling to top-seeded Julia Browne of Tufts. Pontee won the opening set, but Baljon was able to rally for a convincing three-set victory 4-6, 6-1, 6-0.
The Ephs were able to win the remaining eight matches all in straight sets, showing off great depth. Regional champion Kristin Alotta defeated Beckerman 6-1, 6-0. Nikkie Reich topped Backer 6-2, 6-2. Lucy Marchese beat Anderson 6-2, 6-1. First-year Nancy Worley continued her impressive fall with a 6-2, 6- 3 win over Ruther. Ashley Parsons notched a win of Santiago 6-1, 6-2. Caroline Capute won her first singles match of the fall 6-2, 6-1 over Nicole Block. French topped Dunn-Rankin 6-4, 6-1. Genny Loomis defeated Roush 6-1, 6-4, and first-year Veranika Li won her first collegiate match 6-1, 6-0 over Melanie Horn.
Coming off a stellar weekend in Cambridge at the ITA regional championship, the Ephs looked again to be in top form.
"The girls played with more confidence, hitting aggressive shots," said coach Swain. "It's good to see improvement happening so quickly."
For Vassar, a team who has six underclassmen in its starting rotation, it was a chance to battle one of the nation's top team early in the season before returning home to close out the fall season. The Ephs move on to face archrival Amherst at home on Saturday, Oct. 3, before hosting Wellesley on Sunday.
