Ephs Take Down Middlebury 5-4

WILLIAMSTOWN, MA – Women's squash delivered an important win today with their 5-4 victory over Middlebury. The Ephs were determined to redeem themselves after last weekend's 5-4 loss to Bates, and did just that this morning. The match was important in terms of seeding for NESCAC's, and the women guaranteed their number 3 seed with the win today.

The match started off with Ellie O'Neill (#3) and Gibbs Cullen (#9) handing their respective opponents 3-0 losses each. Co-captain O'Neill and senior Cullen showed their experience and led the team by example. Ellen Coombe (#6) found herself down 2-0, fought her way back to win the third game, but was eventually defeated in four games. After the first round of matches, Williams found themselves in a good position with a 2-1 lead over Middlebury.

Next up to play came Maria Pylypiv (#8), Lily Grant (#5) and Nicole Feshbach (#2). Pylypiv followed Cullen's lead on the third court and defeated her opponent in three short games. Sophomores Grant and Feshbach had more trouble on their individual courts. After winning the first game 12-10, Grant was unable to win two more and was defeated 3-1. After losing the first game, Feshbach was able to win the second, but lost in a similar fashion as her classmate, in four games.

With the match score now tied at 3-3, the Ephs needed to win at least two of the three final round matches to take the match. On the third court however, Alyssa Ritchie (#7) and her opponent were already on their fifth game. After Ritchie was up 2-0, her opponent was able to tie it at 2-2 and then eventually defeated Ritchie 11-6 in the fifth game. With two matches left to play, the Ephs were under pressure to perform, but Caroline Sawin (#4) and co-captain Alyssa Northrop (#1) proved more than capable under the pressure.

Knowing the match was on the line, Northrop played an impressive match. After winning the first game 12-10, her opponent tied it at 1-1 with an 11-9 victory in the second game. After trading two more games, the match was tied at 2-2. Northrop was determined to come through for her team and did just that, with a 11-6 victory to take the fifth game and the match. Next door, Sawin was already up on her opponent 2-1. With her teammate Northrop coming through, Sawin was determined to not let her opponent force a fifth game, and closed our her match and the overall match with a 12-10 win in the fourth game.

"I am very pleased with the win," agreed head coach Zafi Levy. "Our seniors came up with big wins today. We can play better than this though, and we will keep working hard to improve our standard of play."

Women's squash has little time to rest, as they travel to New York City to face a much improved Columbia team on Sunday the 19^th at 2 pm. 

Individual Results: