Women's Tennis Splits in Season Finale

April 23, 2007

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - MIT wrapped up its spring campaign this past weekend as it defeated Skidmore College (8-1) but dropped a tough match to nationally-ranked No. 25 Vassar College (5-4). The Engineers finished the year with an 11-6 ledger, marking their eighth consecutive 10-win season under the direction of head coach Carol Matsuzaki.

MIT led off Saturday's match with Skidmore by sweeping doubles play. Mariah Hoover and Leslie Hansen quickly defeated their No. 1 opponent, 8-1, while Joanna MacKay and Yi Wang notched an 8-3 decision. In the No. 3 slot, Karina Pikhart and Anisa McCree emerged with a hard-fought 9-8 (4) win.

The Engineers clinched the match with a pair of dominating decisions by Hansen and Hoover. Hansen did not drop a game in her straight-set win while Hoover overpowered her No. 2 foe, 6-0, 6-1. Following a 6-0, 6-2 loss by MacKay, Serena Lin registered a 6-0, 6-1 victory in the No. 3 position. McCree and Wang closed the match with scores of 6-0, 6-3, and 6-2, 6-1, respectively.

In exhibition play, Emily Onufer and Katie Smyth lost, 8-4, in their doubles match. Pikhart posted a 6-1, 6-3 win while Kerry Weinberg notched a 6-1, 6-1 victory. Onufer defeated her opponent, 7-6 (2), 6-4, in the final match.

On Sunday, the Brewers opened doubles action by defeating Pikhart and McCree (8-3) and MacKay and Wang (8-4). MIT got on the board with an 8-5 win by Hoover and Hansen. Vassar went on to clinch the match by posting victories in the No. 5, No. 6, and No. 3 positions. MacKay and McCree both fell by 6-1, 6-1 margins while Lin lost, 6-4, 7-5. The Engineers went on to take the final three singles matches. Hansen upset nationally-ranked No. 17 Debbie Sharnak, 7-6 (4), 6-0, while Hoover defeated her No. 2 opponent, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3. Wang gave MIT another three-set victory as she bounced back from a 6-2 loss in the opening set with decisions of 6-3 and 6-4.

The Brewers won every exhibition match they played as Onufer and Smyth fell, 8-2, in doubles action. Pikhart was defeated, 6-0, 6-3, while Smyth lost, 6-0, 6-0.

Skidmore College vs. MIT
Final Team Score: MIT 8, Skidmore 1

Doubles
1. Mariah Hoover/Leslie Hansen (M) def. Kate Hugo/Danielle Fancher (S), 8-1
2. Joanna MacKay/Yi Wang (M) def. Kyra Travis/Laura Attley (S), 8-3
3. Karina Pikhart/Anisa McCree (M) def. Jenny Grabler/Stephanie Abrams (S), 9-8 (4)
4. Ashley McEvoy/Kim Bevan (S) def. Emily Onufer/Katie Smyth (M), 8-4

Singles
1. Leslie Hansen (M) def. Danielle Fancher (S), 6-0, 6-0
2. Mariah Hoover (M) def. Laura Attley (S), 6-0, 6-1
3. Serena Lin (M) def. Stephanie Abrams (S), 6-0, 6-1
4. Yi Wang (M) def. Jenny Grabler (S), 6-2, 6-1
5. Kate Hugo (S) def. Joanna MacKay (M), 6-0, 6-2
6. Anisa McCree (M) def. Kyra Travis (S), 6-0, 6-3
7. Karina Pikhart (M) def. Ashley McEvoy (S), 6-1, 6-3
8. Kerry Weinberg (M) def. Kim Bevan (S), 6-1, 6-1
9. Emily Onufer (M) def. Jordan White (S), 7-6 (2), 6-4

No. 25 Vassar College vs. MIT
Final Team Score: Vassar 5, MIT 4

Doubles
1. Mariah Hoover/Leslie Hansen (M) def. Debbie Sharnak/Kelly Graham (V), 8-5
2. Elysa Kliman/Krista Romita (V) def. Joanna MacKay/Yi Wang (M), 8-4
3. Anna Will/Nicole Pontee (V) def. Karina Pikhart/Anisa McCree (M), 8-3
4. Jamison Steele/Courtney Burks (V) def. Emily Onufer/Katie Smyth (M), 8-2

Singles
1. Leslie Hansen (M) def. Debbie Sharnak (V), 7-6 (4), 6-0
2. Mariah Hoover (M) def. Kelly Graham (V), 3-6, 6-2, 6-3
3. Nicole Pontee (V) def. Serena Lin (M), 6-4, 7-5
4. Yi Wang (M) def. Elysa Kliman (V), 2-6, 6-3, 6-4
5. Anna Will (V) def. Joanna MacKay (M), 6-1, 6-2
6. Alexis Jacobson (V) def. Anisa McCree (M), 6-1, 6-2
7. Krista Romita (V) def. Karina Pikhart (M), 6-0, 6-3
8. Courtney Burks (V) def. Kerry Weinberg (M), Unknown score
9. Jamie Steele (V) def. Katie Smyth (M), 6-0, 6-0