MEDFORD, Mass. - The No. 28 Haverford College women's squash team (5-9) opened up College Squash Association (CSA) Women's Team Championships action with a resounding 8-1 triumph over No. 29 Vassar (9-7), as play opened up in the Epps Cup division at Tufts University on Friday afternoon.

The Fords displayed a dominant performance at the final three positions on the ladder, with Maisie Smith, Emilia Zegers, and Lyvia Yan each making quick work of their opponents at the seventh through ninth flights, respectively. Smith allowed just two total points to Sophia Choudhri at the seventh while Zegers surrendered just seven total points to Heidi Zahnleuter and Yan just one point to her Brewers opponent Kelsey O'Connell.

Haverford also recorded sweeps at the second, fourth, fifth, and sixth flights, as seniors Izzy Johnson and Shreya Singh grabbed quick wins at the second and sixth flights while junior Caroline Smith and sophomore Emi Krishnamurthy were also victorious in straight games at the fourth and fifth positions. 

With the overall match decision already in hand, first year Ariana Solecki battled past Claire Coss in a tough back-and-forth fight at the top flight. Solecki took the first game with relative ease, but Coss swung back to force extra points in the second stanza. Solecki was able to prevail by a 14-12 final, but the Vassar player put to bed any thoughts of a sweep with a 11-8 answer in a do-or-die third game. In the fourth game, Solecki took the upper hand, responding with authority for the 11-5 win. Vassar picked up its tally at the third flight, with Anna Lee reversing a first-game win from Catherine Fortin. Lee responded with three consecutive wins to avoid the shutout. 

The Fords have now won six consecutive contests against Vassar, a streak that dates back to the 2018-19 season. Haverford returns to action tomorrow against No. 25 Georgetown in the first of two Epps Cup semifinals. Action is slated to begin at 2 p.m. at the Tufts Squash Center.