The Ephs tied for the eight spot this year in the final national
team rankings with with the University of Rochester. The
College Squash Association (CSA) could not decide which team to
give the #8 spot to and thus, the last spot in the A draw at
nationals. A first ever play-in match was set for this morning at
Harvard University with the winner advancing to face top-seeded
Trinity later this afternoon and the loser competing in the B
Division.
With the match tied 4-4 when Eph first year Will Gruner #5 headed
onto the court. Gruner went down 2 games to start and the
Ephs were a game away from losing their dream of competing in the A
draw. With tons of heart and the entire Eph team urging him
on, Gruner battled back to tie the game score at 2-2.
Eventually, Gruner won the third game to give Williams a 5-4 win
over Rochester. Other Eph wins came from #9 Christian Henze, #8
Bernard Yaros, #7 Cameron Henry and a 3-2 victory by #6 senior
Morgan Phillips.
"Everybody played well for us," said Eph head coach Zafi Levy.
"Rochester is very strong at the top of the ladder with a lot of
foreign players, but we won 5-9 to advance to the A draw for the
third straight year. Will Gruner was outstanding, even though he
lost the first two games 10-8 and 9-7 he stayed focused. He just
came back in the third game and nailed the Rochseter player 9-0,
9-6 and 9-2."
