Blue Squash Takes 2nd at Seven Sisters; Highest Finish in Nine Years

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. -- The Wellesley College squash team took second place at the 2012 Seven Sisters Championship on Saturday at Vassar College. The Blue compiled a 2-1 record with victories over Vassar and Smith, with a loss to eventual champion, #13 Mount Holyoke.

The runner-up finish is the highest finish for Wellesley since the 2003 Tournament where the Blue ended up second to Vassar. This weekend's results improve the Blue squash team to 10-11 overall, marking the first time since the 2003-04 season since the team has reached the 10-win plateau.

Mount Holyoke took the overall title for the sixth consecutive year, sweeping Wellesley, Smith, and host Vassar 9-0 in the round-robin format tournament.

Wellesley finished with an 8-1 win over Vassar and a 7-2 win over Smith. Smith defeated Vassar in the closest match of the day, 5-4, to finish with a 1-2 record on the day and third place. Vassar went 0-3 and took fourth.

Ranked No. 13 in the most recent College Squash Association (CSA) poll, Mount Holyoke entered the tournament the heavy favorite. With first place sealed for Mount Holyoke after two rounds of play, No. 26 Wellesley and No. 24 Smith fittingly met in the final match of the day with an even 1-1 record to decide second place.

Wellesley's match versus Smith featured five five-game matches- two of which accounted for Smith's two points. At the No. 1 position, Rosemary O'Connor of Wellesley knocked off Jacqueline Zhou of Smith in straight sets 11-6, 12-10, 12-10. O'Connor went 2-1 on the day and was named to the Seven Sisters All-Tournament Team, along with classmate, Emma Haley, the Blue's #2 player in the line-up. 

Also in the pivotal match against Smith, Wellesley picked up victories from sophomore Sara Del Balzo at three, first-year Lilly Tyson at four and sophomore Haley Vasquez at six. At two and five, Haley and junior Margo Sulmont each battled, but fell in five games. Rounding out the ladder, first-year Alexandra Spiliakos picked up a four-game win at seven, while juniors Emaline Surgenor and Cara Kaufman each won thrilling five-game matches at eight and nine. 

Against Vassar, Wellesley picked up an 8-1 win, earning victories in the top eight flights. 

Wellesley squash is back in action at home on Friday. The Blue will battle Boston College at Dana Hall in their final home match of the season, beginning at 7:30pm. 


Final Standings

Mount Holyoke (3-0)
Wellesley (2-1)
Smith (1-2)
Vassar (0-3)

Final Results
Match 1: Smith def. Vassar, 5-4
Match 2: Mount Holyoke def. Wellesley, 9-0
Match 3: Wellesley def. Vassar, 8-1
Match 4: Mount Holyoke def. Smith, 9-0
Match 5: Mount Holyoke def. Vassar, 9-0
Match 6: Wellesley def. Smith, 7-2

All-Tournament Team
Randima Ranaweera, Mount Holyoke
Shara Robertson, Mount Holyoke
Katrina Intal, Mount Holyoke
Emma Haley, Wellesley
Rosemary O'Connor, Wellesley
Clair Oblamski, Smith
Helen Queenan, Smith
Nina Punukollu, Vassar