NEW YORK CITY, NY – The Ephs fell 9-0 to Columbia today in their first match of the weekend. Despite fighting hard, the #11 ranked Ephs fell to the #7 ranked Lions.
Playing the three-court system, Charlotte Walsh (#9), Melissa Swann (#6), and Hayley Parsons (#3) were up first. Parsons match was particularly memorable, with her getting a game off of a tough opponent. Walsh and Swann both fought hard and played well but fell in three games.
Next on court were Anna Nicholson (#8), captain Alyssa Ritchie (#5), and Esther Baek (#2). Baek also got a game off of her opponent and Ritchie and Nicholson both fought hard but eventually fell in three.
Last on were Ellen Coombe (#7), Ananya Mahalingam-Dhingra (#4), and Nicole Friedman (#1). Coombe took her opponent to four games and despite fighting hard, Friedman and Mahalingam-Dhingra both fell to difficult opponents in three games. Both Caroline Hogan (#10) and Eliza Bower (#11) put up impressive performances in the exhibition matches, getting games off of tough players and playing good, consistent squash.
Head coach Zafi Levy had this to say about the match: "Impressive performance by the women's team against Columbia. We will build on this for another day of play at Little Three Championships tomorrow.
Captain Alyssa Ritchie agreed with his sentiment, stating, "We had a tough opponent in Columbia tonight. Everyone fought hard and played well, but ultimately the Columbia team outplayed us. We definitely used tonight to prepare for the Little Three's competition tomorrow, so hopefully we can arrive prepared and ready to play two tough matches."
The Ephs next travel to Amherst to play at the Little Three Championships, facing Wesleyan as well as the home school. They will then travel back to Williamstown for another week of play before NESCAC championships next weekend.
INDIVIDUAL SCORES TO COME.
