playing matches. The tennis teams went to California while the rugby teams went to Trinidad. Photo By: Vassar College Athletics
Men’s Tennis
The men’s tennis team spent their spring break playing difficult matches in California. Their first match was against Chapman University on March 10. Freshman Nick Litsky got his first ever collegiate match-clinching win. Litsky defeated Troy Akin of the Panthers (2-3) in the only singles bout that went into a third set. Sophomores Evan Udine and Sha Huang got things rolling for the Brewers with an 8-5 doubles win over Justin Thompson and Zach Resnick at No. 3. Litsky and junior Christian Lyon earned a close, 8-6 victory at No. 2 against Charlie Werman and Sam Mitledorf. In their second match against California Lutheran University, Udine picked up his first win against an opponent from a nationally-ranked team in his college career. He defeated Sean Handley 7-5, 6-3 at No. 5 singles. Sophomore Christian Phelps earned a No. 3 singles win against Connor Treacy 6-4, 6-2. The Brewers ended up losing 2-7. The team also claimed a 3-6 loss against the University of Rochester. Cooper first teamed with fellow sophomore captain Phelps for an 8-4 win over Julian Danko and Jonny Baker. He then took on Ben Shapiro in singles and won the three-set match, 6-4, 1-6, 6-2. The final spring break match was against Whittier College. The Brewers lost 2-7 to the ranked team. Vassar men’s tennis will begin Liberty League play once again on Saturday, March 29 against St. Lawrence University.
Women’s Tennis
The Vassar women’s tennis team also spent their spring break playing in California. The team earned its first victory on its California spring break trip with a 9-0 sweep of Principia College on Sunday afternoon. Freshman Emily Hallewell and sophomore Winnie Yeates got the doubles started at the No. 2 position with a 8-0 win over Caitlin Carney and Lily Richards for the Brewers (2-1, 0-1 Liberty League). Sophomore Lauren Stauffer and freshman Connie Yoo continued the action with an 8-3 win over AC McMullen and Nathalie DeLoach. Junior Samantha Schapiro and sophomore Kelsey Van Noy also had a tough win for the Brewers. The Brewers then faced nationally ranked Bowdoin College, and ended up losing 2-7. The team had a hard 0-9 loss the next match as well, which was against Pamona College. Schapiro had two close matches at the No. 1 position for both singles and doubles. She teamed with freshman Shayna Becker in an 8-5 defeat to Sammy Chao and Lea Lynn Yen. Schapiro met Chao again in singles, falling 6-2, 6-4. The team came back for the next match, winning 8-1 against California Technical Institute. Van Noy and Yeates both posted 6-0 sets in singles for the Brewers (3-3). Van Noy topped Katie Antilla at No. 6 with mirrored results in both sets. Yeates defeated Michelle Lee 6-4, 6-0 at No. 3. Yeates also teamed with freshman Hallewell at No. 2 doubles, picking up the solid 8-1 win. Van Noy partnered with sophomore Stauffer for an 8-3 victory against Michelle Tange and Valerie Pietrasz. In their final match of the trip, the team pulled off a 6-3 win against Chapman University. The Brewers (4-3) got off to an early 2-1 lead following doubles. The Brewers will next travel to Canton, NY for Liberty League play against the Saints of St. Lawrence University on Saturday, March 29.
Men’s Rugby
Over the recent break, the men’s rugby team traveled to Port of Spain, Trinidad to play matches against local and regional teams. The team lost their first match again the Trinidad Presidents 15-36, but quickly won their next match against the Trinidad South Select team.31-28 several days later. Player Danny Thomas led the team with a total of three tries, while junior Jesse Myhill followed suit with a total of three cons. The team will face their next match on Saturday, March 29 on Vassar’s campus against Sacred Heart University.
Women’s Rugby
The Vassar women’s rugby team also spent their break in Trinidad, sweeping all their matches against their opponents. Their first match was against the Trinidad North Select team, which they took 45-15. Senior Margaret Kwateng led the team with a total of three tries. Their next match was against Trinidad South Select, which they won 54-15. Freshman Natalie Freeman was the lead player for this match, having a total of three tries. In their final match against Trinidad Combined Select, the team won 41-0. The team will look to face Fordham University this Saturday, March 29, on Vassar’s campus.
Men’s and Women’s Track
The Vassar men’s and women’s track team opened their season for the 2014 year with a spring break competition at the University of Arizona. Sophomore Taylor Vann was the first Brewer to compete this season. Vann chalked up a school record 6.34 meters in the long jump. In the 200, junior Heather Ingraham just missed setting a school record, as she posted a personal best with a 25.79 in the event. Sophomore Mollie Schear and senior Carrie Perkins both set personal records as well in the 200 meters. On the men’s side in the 200 meters, junior Harris Gordon and sophomore Peter Winkeller both set personal bests for Vassar. Freshman Jemma Howlett ran her first meet as a Brewer in the 5,000 meters, booking a 18:45, followed closely by senior Kate Snider and her 18:47.