Blue Squash Tops BC on Senior Night

WELLESLEY, Mass. -- The Wellesley College squash team closed out the 2013-14 regular season with a 7-2 victory over Boston College on Monday night at the Dana Hall School in Wellesley. 

The win sets Wellesley's season mark to 13-5, as the team heads to the College Squash Association Championships this weekend. BC ends its regular season with a 4-6 mark.

Wellesley and BC split the first two matches to come off the courts. Blue first-year Navisha Gupta picked up an 11-7, 11-4, 11-4, victory over Alison Johnston at six, while BC's Mary Aidan Hanrahan topped sophomore Mollee Jain at nine, setting the match score to 1-1.

The Blue then took control, as senior Haley Vasquez picked up an 8-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-6 victory at three to put Wellesley ahead 2-1, earning a lead the team would not relinquish. Also playing in the first set of matches, junior Sarah Tammaro dropped a 9-11, 11-3, 11-7, 11-4 exhibition match to Allie Goguen of BC. 

The Blue sealed the match victory with next set of players on court. Wellesley picked up three straight wins from sophomore Kate Loftus, and first-years Rhea Advani and Meera Nayar, earning the decisive fifth match point, and going up 5-1. Loftus was an 11-9, 11-8, 12-10 winner over Katherine Neuberger at eight, Advani topped Carlie Ladda, 11-5, 11-7, 11-3, at five, and Nayar was an 11-8, 8-11, 11-6, 11-7, winner over Cassandra Burke at two.

Wrapping up the match, Wellesley grabbed wins in two of the final three matches on court, setting the final score to 7-2. Sophomore Gabriella Wynne was an 11-3, 11-2, 11-5, winner over Madeline Bette at two, while BC's Katherine Neuberger was an 11-7, 11-7, 11-7 winner over first-year Ruby Feng at seven. Closing out the action, Wellesley senior Sara Del Balzo was the final match on court, earning an 11-7, 11-7, 11-7 win over Lilly Havens at number one. 

Before the match, Wellesley honored the three members of the class of 2014 for their contributions to the program. Rosemary O'Connor, Del Balzo, and Vasquez have combined for over 110 victories for the Blue in their careers, and all finish their careers by playing in the top third of the line-up for Wellesley. 

Up next, the Blue will head to the CSA Championships February 21st through 23rd at Princeton University. Wellesley is expected to play in the "C" Division for the Walker Cup. Complete brackets will be released later this week. 

Del Balzo, O'Connor, Vasquez