PHILADELPHIA - The Haverford College men's squash (6-9) team split on the first day of action at the Men's Collegiate Team Championships, as postseason play began on Friday at the Arlen Specter U.S. Squash Center. Haverford fell 9-0 to No. 26 Hobart, but then came back in the second match of the day to dispatch No. 32 Vassar by a final of 8-1.
Hobart 9, Haverford 0
The Statesmen of Hobart proved to be a tough matchup for the Fords, with Haverford struggling to find its footing in the early goings. Ultimately, the Fords were able to steal a game at the fifth flight, with Ben Schiltz grabbing the third game from Giacomo Dalle Molle, helping to extend that match to a fourth game. Elsewhere, John Collins looked strong at the sixth flight, rallying from two quick defeats to four extra points in a back-and-forth fight in the third game against James Mazzarelli. Quinton Crawford also took Hussein Labib to extra points in a third game loss at the top flight.
Haverford 8, Vassar 1
In the second match of the day, the Fords were able to power past the Brewers behind solid performances up and down the ladder. In one of the first matches to reach conclusion, Schiltz turned away Max Swan at the fourth flight by identical 11-3, 11-3, 11-3 finals, making quick work of the Vassar player. Alden Weinberg also breezed past Jarid Haslinger at the seventh flight, while Peter Lehv withstood a challenge from Henry Mitchell at the third flight, prevailing in four games to give the Fords a commanding 3-0 lead after the first grouping of matches to hit the court reached conclusion.
John Collins then dispatched Alex Wisneski in straight games, putting Haverford on the brink of victory before Aaron Witkin delivered the clinching point with a hard-fought four-game victory over Reese Collins (12-10, 11-6, 12-14, 11-9). Noah Tunis then finished off a sweep of Sameer Mustafa at the second flight, before straight-game victories from Crawford at the top flight and Minor Reedich at the fourth, as Haverford remained unbeaten against Vassar dating back to the 2011 season.
The Fords now return to action tomorrow, with play shifting to Penn's Squash Center at 9 a.m. Haverford will take on No. 29 Wesleyan in the morning contest, before returning to the Specter Center to face No. 31 Connecticut College on Sunday (10:30 a.m.) to wrap up the weekend. Haverford faced off with Wesleyan earlier this season at the Pioneer Valley Invitational, as the Cardinals escaped with a 7-2 victory in that meeting.