SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (Apr. 15, 2011) – The 2012 Seven Sisters Tennis Championship concluded today with five more matches at Mount Holyoke College. After falling behind early, Vassar College pulled out a thrilling 3-2 triumph over Wellesley College in the final contest of the day. In doing so, the Brewers secured their 10th title and their second in the past three years. They finished the tournament with 18 points and a perfect 4-0 record.
Wellesley's 17 points were good for second place overall. Mount Holyoke (9 points), Smith College (4 points) and Bryn Mawr College (2 points) rounded out the field.
Senior Jennifer Beckerman and junior Jennifer Ruther clinched things for Vassar with their impressive singles wins. With her team trailing 2-1, Beckerman knotted the match up with an impressive 7-5, 6-4 victory over senior Marie Watanabe. Minutes later, Ruther finished off first year Sojung Lee by a score of 3-6, 6-2, 6-3. In the process, she sealed the championship for the Brewers.
At the conclusion of the tournament, Beckerman and Ruther were named to the All-Tournament Team. They were joined by Joy Backer (Vassar), Diana Granger (Wellesley), Kendall Tada (Wellesley), Nahrhee Han (Mount Holyoke), Maya Sayarath (Mount Holyoke), Clair Oblamski (Smith), Jaimi Inskeep (Smith) and Anna Perocchi (Bryn Mawr).
Vassar and Wellesley entered the final match with 15 points apiece. Earlier in the day, the Brewers blanked Mount Holyoke 5-0, and Wellesley rolled to a 5-0 win over Bryn Mawr. The Lyons sealed third place for the third year in a row with their 4-1 victory over Smith. Meanwhile, the Pioneers sealed fourth place with a 3-2 triumph over Bryn Mawr.
Mount Holyoke has now defeated Smith five times in a row. The Lyons held on for a 5-4 win when the two squads met in the fall. They closed out their weekend with a record of 2-2.
The hosts were dominant in singles play, taking all three matches in straight sets. Han topped Perocchi 7-5, 6-0, while Sayarath breezed to a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Jordan Dubin. Sophomore Eman Malik closed out the match with a 6-4, 7-6 (7-1) triumph over Bayla Weick.
Mount Holyoke's remaining point came from sophomore Kelsey Brower and senior Heather Richardson, who downed Haruka Shimoto and Robyn Cyr by a score of 6-2, 6-3.
The Lyons (8-11, 3-4 NEWMAC) will close out their 2011-12 slate at home against Roger Williams University next Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
Day 1 Results (Saturday, April 14)
Match 1: Mount Holyoke College def. Bryn Mawr College, 5-0 (Boxscore)
Match 2: Vassar College def. Smith College, 5-0 (Boxscore)
Match 3: Wellesley College def. Mount Holyoke, 5-0 (Boxscore)
Match 4: Vassar College def. Bryn Mawr College, 5-0 (Boxscore)
Match 5: Wellesley College def. Smith College, 5-0 (Boxscore)
Day 2 Results (Sunday, April 15)
Match 6: Smith College def. Bryn Mawr College, 3-2 (Boxscore)
Match 7: Vassar College def. Mount Holyoke College, 5-0 (Boxscore)
Match 8: Wellesley College def. Bryn Mawr College, 5-0 (Boxscore)
Match 9: Mount Holyoke College def. Smith College, 4-1 (Boxscore)
Match 10: Vassar College def. Wellesley College, 3-2 (Boxscore)
Final Team Standings
Vassar College – 18 points
Wellesley College – 17 points
Mount Holyoke College – 9 points
Smith College – 4 points
Bryn Mawr College – 2 points
All Tournament Team
Jennifer Beckerman, Vassar College
Jennifer Ruther, Vassar College
Joy Baker, Vassar College
Diana Granger, Wellesley College
Kendall Tada, Wellesley College
Nahrhee Han, Mount Holyoke College
Maya Sayarath, Mount Holyoke College
Clair Oblamski, Smith College
Jaimi Inskeep, Smith College
Anna Perocchi, Bryn Mawr College
