The St. Lawrence University women's tennis team suffered its first loss of the season as nationally ranked No. 26 Vassar blanked the Saints in Poughkeepsie, NY on Saturday afternoon.

The Brewers, who are ranked #11 in the Northeast region, improved to 6-3 on the season. Meanwhile, the regionally ranked #17 Saints fell to 7-1 overall.

At No. 1 doubles, the duo of senior Hillary Drewry and first-year student Elkie Vandenbeemt were defeated by Joy Backer and Ava Sadeghi, 8-4, while juniors Elizabeth Geer and Shannon Murphy fell to Jennifer Beckerman and Samantha Schapiro 8-2 at No.2. First-year students Olivia Arroyo and Anna Young battled hard at No. 3, but were edged by Hannah Van Demark and Lindsay Kantor 8-6.

Vassar continued to control much of singles play. Vandenbeemt brought regionally ranked #10 Sadeghi into a third set super tiebreaker, but would eventually fall by the scores of 7-5, 4-6, (10-6).

The Saints will look to rebound from the loss against NYU on March 30 in Geneva, NY.

Vassar 9, St. Lawrence 0

Poughkeepsie, NY (Josselyn Tennis Courts)

March 24, 2012

Singles:

1. Jennifer Beckerman (VC) def. Hillary Drewry (SLU) 6-0, 6-0

2. Ava Sadeghi (VC) def. Elkie Vandenbeemt (SLU) 7-5, 4-6, (10-6)

3. Joy Backer (VC) def. Olivia Arroyo (SLU) 6-2, 6-2

4. Sam Schapiro (VC) def. Elizabeth Geer (SLU) 6-1, 6-1

5. Jennifer Ruther (VC) def. Shannon Murphy (SLU) 6-0, 6-2

6. Hannah Van Demark (VC) def. Anna Young (SLU) 6-2, 6-1

Doubles:

1. Joy Backer/Ava Sadeghi (VC) def. Hillary Drewry/Elkie Vandenbeemt (SLU) 8-4

2. Jennifer Beckerman/Sam Schapiro (VC) def. Elizabeth Geer/Shannon Murphy (SLU) 8-2

3. Lindsay Kantor/Hannah Van Demark (VC) def. Olivia Arroyo/Anna Young (SLU) 8-6

St. Lawrence: 7-1; #17 in the Northeast Region

Vassar: 6-3; #11 in the Northeast Region; #26 in the National Rankings