Women's Squash Completes Season Sweep of Vassar, 8-1

Eva Tamkin
Eva Tamkin

HAVERFORD, Pa. - The No. 28 Haverford College women's squash team (6-3) downed visiting No. 32 Vassar (7-7) by an 8-1 final on Saturday afternoon at the GIAC Squash Courts. The Fords grabbed their second win of the season over the Brewers, improving on their 5-4 triumph in December. After narrowly edging out Vassar for the first time since the 2015 campaign in December, the Fords had all the momentum working in the second end of the home-and-home series. On home courts, the Fords felt comfortable in dispatching their opponents with relative ease.

The first match to finish saw Eva Tamkin defeat Lily Hammer in straight games (11-4, 11-2, 11-2), picking up the first win for the Fords at the ninth flight. The second match to finish was also a Haverford sweep, as Sunny Chai got the best of Isabel Branson at the sixth flight (11-7, 11-8, 11-4). Haverford went ahead 3-0 as Isabelle Johnson turned away Claire Coss (11-9, 11-5, 11-2) at the second position.

In the second round of matches, Urgyen Wangmo matched with Alexa Elias, sweeping past her opponent with scores of 11-7, 11-8, and 11-4 at the fifth flight. The match was clinched by Hannah Adler at the eighth flight, as Adler outlasted Natalia Lanzoni in a five-game thriller (11-9, 11-6, 5-11, 5-11, 11-5).  Adler grabbed the first two games before falling in the next two, ultimately taking an 11-5 victory in the fifth game to seal a crucial overall match win for the for the Fords.

Maddie Hager then made quick work of Amanda Watson at the fourth flight (11-3, 11-0, 1-1) and Kaitlin Reese continued her strong season at the top flight with a sweep of Sydney Nemphos (11-3, 11-2, 11-7). Sophia Jackson was challenged by Nicole Philstrom at the seventh spot, as Philstrom grabbed a third-game victory before Jackson was able to end things with an 11-2 showing in the fourth and final game (11-9, 11-3, 5-11, 11-2).

Vassar got one back with the decision well in hand, as Julia Pollak swept Shreya Singh at number three (11-5, 12-10, 11-6).

Hager has posted an 8-1 record so far this season, while Reese and Chai are both 7-2 on the year. The Fords need just two wins to match last season's win total, and still have seven matches remaining. Action returns to the GIAC Squash Courts on Saturday, February 2 as the Fords square off with Denison (10:30 a.m.) and No. 30 Bucknell (3:30 p.m.).