Women's Squash Defeat Bates and Middlebury in NESCAC Tournament

HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT – The Ephs faced and defeated two difficult opponents in the quarter-finals and semi-finals of the NESCAC tournament today, ensuring a spot in the finals against Trinity tomorrow. The Ephs defeated Bates in the quarter-finals 8-1 (improving on their regular season score of 6-3) and also trumped Middlebury in the semi-finals 8-1 (also improving on their original score of 7-2).

The Ephs first faced the Bobcats at 1:30pm on the Trinity courts, following the five-court system. Alyssa Ritchie (#10), co-captain Lily Grant (#8), Ellen Coombe (#6), Ananya Mahalingam-Dhingra (#4), and Hayley Parsons (#2) were on first round. In the exhibition match, Ritchie dominated her opponent start to finish, winning in three quick games. Grant and Parsons also won in three games, with Parsons playing excellent squash to defeat an opponent that she lost to earlier in the season. Mahalingam-Dhingra came back from a 1-1 tie against her opponent to close the match in four games, and Coombe fought hard in a five-game match to also gain a point for the Ephs.

Next on court were Caroline Hogan (#9), Charlotte Walsh (#7), Esther Baek (#5), co-captain Nicole Feshbach (#3), and Nicole Friedman (#1). Walsh was the first to step off the court, defeating her opponent in four games and gaining the winning point for the Ephs. Baek and Hogan both went to five games, but stayed strong until the end and both secured wins for Williams. Feshbach dropped only a game on the way to her win, and Friedman faced a difficult opponent, despite eventually losing in three close games, making the final score 8-1 to the Ephs.

The Ephs then faced the Middlebury Panthers at 7:30 that same evening. Again playing the five-court system, Grant, Coombe, Mahalingam-Dhingra, and Parsons were up first. Grant, Coombe, and Parsons all took their opponents down quickly, with Grant being the only one to drop a game. Mahalingam-Dhingra came back from a 2-1 deficit to win 11-8 in a nail-biting fifth game, stepping off court after Walsh and Hogan both defeated their opponents in three games, therefore securing the five points necessary for the win. Friedman and Baek were the next to get wins for the Ephs, with Friedman winning in three decisive games and Baek in another close five-game match. Feshbach was the last on court, facing a very tough opponent and playing great squash, although eventually falling in three well-played games, making the final score 8-1 to Williams.

The Ephs will next face Trinity in the finals of the NESCAC tournament tomorrow at 1:30pm.