Liberty League Championship Central
CANTON, N.Y. - The 33rd-ranked Haverford College women's squash team (4-11) had a mixed performance on Saturday, splitting a pair of matches to kick off their inaugural participation in the Liberty League Championships. In the quarterfinals, fourth-seeded Haverford secured a solid victory against fifth-seeded Mount Holyoke with an 8-1 final score. However, the Fords faced a tough challenge in the semifinals against top-seeded William Smith, resulting in a 9-0 defeat. The Saturday split set the stage for an appearance in Sunday's third-place match against third-seeded Denison.
Quarterfinal: No. 4 seed Haverford 8, No. 5 seed Mount Holyoke 1
In the morning matchup, Haverford went head-to-head with Mount Holyoke for the second time this season. Nearly mirroring their previous encounter on January 20, Haverford emerged victorious in eight out of nine spots on the ladder.
The first set of matches on Saturday showcased Emi Krishnamurthy's impressive sweep at the third flight over Tina Mei (11-6, 11-8, 11-5), while Matilda Chartener dominated Lara Gao (11-3, 11-2, 11-3) at the sixth flight. Mount Holyoke secured their lone victory at the ninth flight, with Katherine Sloop overcoming Nayera Hasan in four games.
Haverford maintained their momentum in the second set of matches, with Solecki defeating Sachary Rodriguez at the top flight (11-3, 11-2, 11-0), and Zoe Liu securing a win over Kyla Core at the fourth (11-3, 11-2, 11-4). Amy Saxon demonstrated dominance in a sweep against Lauren McCormick (11-6, 11-0, 11-1).
In the final set of matches, Catherine Fortin allowed just 10 points to Ku Paw at the second flight (11-8, 11-2, 11-2), Maya Johnson-Fraidin conceded only 10 points to Baya Jaiswal at the fifth (11-4, 11-4, 11-2), and Sarah Kotapka outlasted Amelia Arthur in a five-game thriller.
Claire Murray secured a victory over Sabine Mejia in the exhibition matchup.
Semifinal: No. 1 seed William Smith 9, No. 4 seed Haverford 0
In the afternoon, Haverford faced a formidable opponent in the defending Liberty League Champions, William Smith. Struggling against the nation's 14th-ranked squad, the Fords were unable to secure a match win, resulting in a 9-0 defeat. Sabine Mejia reached nine points in the exhibition opener against Kristen McCormick, providing a highlight in an otherwise challenging matchup.
Haverford concludes its Liberty League Championships on Sunday, competing for third place against third-seeded Denison. The action on the courts is scheduled to commence at 10 a.m., with live broadcasts of each court and results available via the Liberty League Championship Central page.