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WILLIAMSTOWN, MA.
– Defending national champions and No. 2 Williams College
(17-2) started off their run in the NCAA tournament with a 6-1
defeat over No. 21 Vassar College (17-4). Vassar
defeated Simmons College, 6-0, in the first round of the
championship before running into the powerhouse Ephs.
Nikki Reich and Cary Gibson took court one,
8-5, over Nicole Pontee and Jamison Steele. Grace Baljon and Taylor French
won their match at 8-4 on court two, as did Annie Hancock and
Kristin Alotta at court three.
Williams struggled early on in singles play,
which made their three doubles win pivotal. Cary Gibson fell at court two at
the hands of Vassar's Jennifer Beckerman, 6-2, 6-1. It was the only point of
the day for Vassar, as Kristin Alotta proceeded to take a win at
court four, and Grace Baljon and Annie Hancock finished their
matches simultaneously to advance to the regional final tomorrow.
“It's great to get the tournament
started and have a round under out belts,” said
Williams' head coach Alison Swain.
“Vassar played tough the whole way through, and I'm
proud of how we battled back, especially after getting down early
on in singles play.”
The Ephs will face off against conference foe
Middlebury at noon tomorrow. The two teams have played each
other twice already this season, with Williams taking both matches.
Williams 6,
Vassar 1
Doubles-
1)
Gibson/Reich (W) def. Pontee/Steele (V) --- 8-5
2)
Baljon/French (W) def. Backer/Romita (V) --- 8-4
3)
Hancock/Alotta (W) def. Beckerman/Jacbson (V)
--- 8-4
Singles-
1)
Grace Baljon (W) def. Nicole Pontee (V) --- 7-5, 6-3
2)
Jennifer Beckerman (V) def. Cary Gibson (W) --- 6-2, 6-1
3)
Nikki Reich (W) led Joy Backer (V) --- 1-6, 6-2, 4-3
4)
Kristin Alotta (W) def. Alexis Jacobson (V) --- 6-3, 6-3
5)
Elizabeth Anderson (V) led Lucy Marchese (W) --- 6-1, 5-6
6)
Annie Hancock (W) def. Jamison Steele (V) --- 6-1, 6-2
