Yoo, Ivenitsky Star as Vassar Tops William Smith

GENEVA – The Vassar College women’s tennis team ran its unbeaten mark in Liberty League play to 4-0 on Saturday afternoon, as the bottom half of the lineup led the Brewers to a 6-3 win over William Smith College in action from Bristol Field House.

The Brewers, who came into the weekend ranked No. 17 regionally, started well in doubles taking a 2-1 mark into the singles flight thanks to wins at No. 2 and No. 3. Junior Kate Christensen and sophomore Morgane Flournoy had no issues at all at No. 2 pairs, blanking Kate Foley and Allie Perron 8-0.

The Herons (1-2, 1-2 Liberty League) drew even though at No. 1 doubles, as Hannah More and Katarina Kostovic outlasted the top pair for Vassar of Shayna Becker and Tara Edwards, 9-7. VC would pick up the second point in doubles at No. 3 in a thriller, as senior Connie Yoo and junior Dasha Ivenitsky knocked off Michaelann Denton and Sydney Ferry 9-8 (7-4).

In singles play, VC swept the bottom half of the draw, winning all six sets at No. 4 through No. 6. The clinching point though for Vassar came from Becker at No. 2, as she took down Perron in straight sets 6-3, 6-1. Flournoy chalked up her second win of the day at No. 4 singles with a 6-2, 7-6 win, while Yoo bested Leland Barclay 6-0, 6-2. Yoo has won four of her last five matches, including dropping only four games over her last three victories

Another double winner came at No. 5 for Vassar, as Ivenitsky picked up her fourth win in her last five matches, knocking off Taylor Ferrari at No. 6 singles to add another victory to her ledger. This season, the Vassar singles players at No. 4 through No. 6 have won a strong 83.3 percent of their matches, including going a perfect 12-0 in Liberty League action.

Vassar nearly swept the singles play, but William Smith was able to pick up two victories in super-tiebreakers. Christensen battled last year’s Liberty League Player of the Year in Hannah More, taking the match the distance. Christensen dropped the opening set, but came back strong to take the second set 7-5. In the tiebreaker, More pulled away to pick up the 6-4, 5-7, 10-5 win at No. 1 singles.

At No. 3, Edwards also went the distance before dropping a nail-biter to Denton, who took an early lead with a 7-6 win. Edwards came right back and controlled play in the second set with a 6-2 win, but Denton regathered and barely nipped the Vassar newcomer 10-8 in the tiebreaker to give the Herons their third point.

“I was very proud of our composure and ability to battle today,” said head coach Kathy Campbell. The Brewers will now hit the road for their annual spring break trip to California, battling No. 4 Bowdoin College at University HS in Irvine, CA Sunday, March 12 at 1 p.m. PST.