WILLIAMSTOWN, MA – May 10, 2013 - Ithaca College defeated Colby-Sawyer 5-0 in a First Round match of the NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Tournament this afternoon on the campus of Williams College.

Colby-Sawyer entered the match with an 18-4 record, but their roster was depleted due to injury, a job commitment and graduation duties, which meant the Chargers were forced to forfeit at number three doubles and number six singles, giving Ithaca a 2-0 lead before the first serve was struck.

With the win Ithaca improves to 16-5 on the year and 4-6 all-time in the NCAA Tournament. Colby-Sawyer ended the season with a record of 18-5 and the Chargers are now 0-2 all-time in the NCAA Tourney.

Ithaca, the Empire Eight Conference champions, wasted no time in strengthening their grip on the match, winning 8-4 at one doubles with the strong play of Laurel Salladay and Cristina Nunez.

Ithaca finished off the sweep of doubles when Carly Siegel and Marni Blumenthal won at number two by a score of 8-3.

With the forfeit win at six singles in the bank, Ithaca needed to post just one win on the court in singles play to advance to the Second Round.

The honor of securing the fifth match point fell to the Bombers' number five singles player Marni Blumenthal who won in straight sets over Colby-Sawyer's Ellen Graham 6-0, 6-1.

Ithaca will face host Williams (18-4) at 1:30 PM tomorrow afternoon if play is conducted outdoors and not before 12:30 PM if inclement weather forces play indoors to the Lansing Chapman Rink at Williams.

--Courtesy of Williams

Ithaca 5, Colby-Sawyer 0
05/10/13 at Williamstown, Mass. (Williams College) 

Singles competition

1. Cristina NUNEZ (IC) vs. Liz Lincoln (CSC) 6-0, 5-0, unfinished

2. Carly SIEGEL (IC) vs. Ashlyn Ramsay (CSC) 6-1, 1-1, unfinished

3. Laurel SALLADAY (IC) vs. Charlotte Horton (CSC) 6-3, 2-2, unfinished

4. Allison VIZGAITIS (IC) vs. Oxana Tkachenko (CSC) 3-6, 2-0, unfinished

5. Marni BLUMENTHAL (IC) def. Ellen Graham (CSC) 6-0, 6-1

6. Alyssa STEINWEIS (IC) def. No player (CSC), by forfeit

Doubles competition

1. Laurel SALLADAY/Cristina NUNEZ (IC) def. Liz Lincoln/Ashlyn Ramsay (CSC) 8-4

2. Carly SIEGEL/Marni BLUMENTHAL (IC) def. Oxana Tkachenko/Charlotte Horton (CSC) 8-3

3. Alyssa STEINWEIS/Allison VIZGAITIS (IC) def. No player/No player (CSC), by forfeit

Match Notes

Colby-Sawyer 18-5

Ithaca 16-5

Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (6)

NCAA First Round

T-1:30 A-25