ITHACA, NY – The Ephs defeated Williams Smith and Dickinson today in the second day of their opening weekend at Cornell. After facing a tough opponent in Cornell yesterday, the Ephs came back strong and dominated both opponents 9-0.
The team faced Williams Smith first at 12pm, playing the five-court system. First on court were Eliza Bower (#10) in the exhibition match, Charlotte Walsh (#8), Anna Nicholson (#6), Ananya Mahalingam-Dhingra (#4), and Esther Baek (#2). All players defeated their opponents in three quick games, with Baek coming back from a 10-6 deficit to defeat her opponent 12-10 in a memorable third game. Next on court were Caroline Hogan (#9), Ellen Coombe (#7), Alyssa Ritchie (#5), Melissa Swann (#3), and Nicole Friedman (#1). All five players followed in the steps of their teammates, quickly finishing off their opponents with Ritchie only dropping one game before winning 3-1.
Next up, the Ephs faced a tougher opponent in Dickinson at 2pm. Despite their fatigue, the team fought hard and only dropped a few games in their 9-0 sweep. First on court were Hogan (#9), Nicholson (#6), and Swann (#3), all of whom quickly finished off their opponents in three tight games. Walsh (#8), Ritchie (#5), and Baek (#2) followed suit, with Baek dropping one tie-breaker game before coming back and winning in four games. Last on court were Coombe (#7), Mahalingam-Dhingra (#4), and Friedman (#1), who all finished off the match 3-0 to make the final score 9-0 to Williams.
Head coach Zafi Levy had this to say about the wins: "Good day for the women's team this weekend. Everybody worked hard and won their matches comfortably. We look forward to playing Hamilton tomorrow."
Captain Alyssa Ritchie echoed his sentiments, stating, "Hobart Williams-Smith and Dickinson both provided great opportunities for the team to gain confidence back after Cornell. Everyone stepped up and played smart squash to efficiently win both matches. We enjoyed playing both teams for the first time and wish them the best in their seasons moving forward."
The team will face Hamilton tomorrow in Clinton, NY before heading home to train and prepare for their home opener in two weeks.
INDIVIDUAL SCORES TO COME.
