The Simon Squash Center was packed today, as it hosted four NESCAC schools. In the first round of matches at 11:00 AM, fifteenth-ranked Williams took on Colby as Middlebury and Bowdoin squared off upstairs. (8-1 Midd.) The Ephs were victorious 8-1, snapping their three-match losing streak. In the first round of matches, Michael Petrick '16 won easily at no. 9, while Kai Graham '15 (#3) and captain Nick Greaves-Tunnell '15 (#6) battled to victory in five long games to give the Ephs a 3-0 lead.
The second round of matches was also very competitive. Jamie Havran '18 eased his way to a decisive victory at no. 8 and captain Chris Wilkinson '15 (#2) won in a nailbiting five games, but Varun Sharma '16 (#5), plagued by injury, lost in a close four games. However, after Wilkinson's victory, the Ephs had clinched the match.
In the final round, Conor McClintock '15, Galen Squiers '16, and Jamie Ruggiero '17 all won in four games at no. 7, 4, and 1 respectively. The afternoon's contest saw the Ephs play the Polar Bears, and Middlebury face Colby. The Ephs won 8-1, and the Panthers also won 7-2. Williams will play the Panthers on January 28th at Middlebury.
The entire Eph lineup was victorious against Bowdoin except Andrew Litvin '18, who lost in a close five game match at no. 8.
All in all, it was a good day for the Ephs, who now move to 3-1 in the NESCAC and 4-4 for the season. Tomorrow will be a big test for Williams, as they will have to face a strong Bates team ranked 14th in the country after a long Saturday of matches.
