Ephs Cruise Past Bates & Bowdoin

Brunswick, ME – Today, the Ephs traveled north to take on the Bates Bobcats and the Bowdoin Polar Bears. After last week's tough matches, the Purple Cows were rested and ready to take on a couple of their NESCAC opponents. A three-court system was used for today's match. 

Our first match of the day was against Bates. First up was Sarah Willwerth (#2), Quan Ng (#5), and Kathryn Wright (#8). Willwerth had a slow start in the first game, but she eventually found her footing and closed out the match in a quick three games. Ng was on fire today hitting a lot of kill shots and winners to clinch her match in straight sets. On the bottom court, Wright had a tough first game winning 13-11. In the second game, her Bobcat opponent had the upper hand winning 11-9, but Wright found her rhythm and cruised through the next two games to win the match in four. 

On court second was Julia Ward (#1), Abby LeBlanc (#6), and Anna Nicholson (#7). Ward had one of the toughest matches of the day against the Bates #1. After losing the first game 5-11, Ward fought back 13-11; her Bobcat opponent then won the third game 11-4. Ward tried her best to recover in the fourth game, but the Bates top seed was too good today as she won the fourth game 12-10. LeBlanc played a grueling five game match against her opponent today. Both women played exceptionally well, but at the end of the day, LeBlanc's grit and determination served her well as she won the match 3-2. Nicholson had an easier time with her opponent as she won her match in straight games. Her Bobcat opponent put up a fight in the second and third game, but Nicholson was playing her game and was too strong to be taken down. 

Last on court today was Haley Jefferson (#3), Melissa Swann (#4), and Mira Kamat (#9). Jefferson was cruising in her first two games, but her Bobcat opponent fought back and managed to win the third game. However, Jefferson found her groove again and closed out the match in a quick fourth game. On the middle court, Swann's opponent pushed her in the first game and put up a close fight in the second and third, but co-captain Swann was not backing down as she was the winner in this close three game match. On the bottom court, Kamat started off a little slow, but once she found her footing, she played calm and clean squash to win her match in straight games. 

The second match of the day was against the Bowdoin Polar Bears. Junior Sarah Willwerth (#2) sat out due to an ongoing injurty, so everyone in the ladder moved up one place. All of the Lady Ephs played smart squash to finish their matches in straight games. The match of the evening was Ward against the Bowdoin #1 who challenged Ward and pushed her to produce some good squash. However, Ward was too strong today as she sealed the deal in three games. 

Co-Captain Nicholson said:"The team played efficiently and deliberately against two great opponents."

Tomorrow, the Ephs will travel to Waterville, Maine to take on the Colby Mules!