December 2, 2006
For Immediate Release
Contact: Loretta Sullivan
(508) 340-0162

Squash Drops Two in First Day of Wesleyan Invitational

Northampton, MA:  The squash team traveled to Wesleyan this weekend to compete in the Wesleyan Invitational in Middletown, CT.  The team faced two strong opponents today in Middlebury College and Tufts University.  The Pioneers lost to both teams by a score of 9-0.

There were some bright spots for the Pioneers however, as both number 1 Beatrice Bircher (Bern, SWITZERLAND) and number 2 Shanita Williams (Boston,MA) played well against their Middlebury opponents.  Williams was the only one to win a game for Smith (6-9, 9-2, 9-4, 9-3) which she did despite being hit in the face with her opponent’s racquet (no serious injury). 

Smith first year Katrina Duggan (Rye, NH) who also plays on the Smith Club Rugby team, played in an exhibition match today against Tufts in only her 5^th time on a squash court (she had been out due to a concussion).  Fellow first year Alice Reznickova (CZECH REPUBLIC) who is also a member of the Smith Novice Crew team, played in her first ever varsity matches at the number 8 spot after only 3 weeks with the team.  Both ran hard and their good technique bodes well for the future.      

Tomorrow the team is back in action as they face off against Connecticut College (10:30 AM) and Wesleyan (noon).  These are teams with a more similar ranking, so Smith is looking to improve over today’s performance. 

Middlebury (2-0)        9
Smith (1-2)                 0

1. Hannah Baker (MID) def. Beatrice Bircher (S)                              9-0, 9-0, 9-0
2. Sally Hatfield (MID) def. Shanita Williams (S)                              6-9, 9-2, 9-4, 9-3
3. Carolyn Woodworth (MID) def. Kate Whitesell (S)             
9-1, 9-5, 10-8
4. Avery Tilney (MID) def. Talia Williams (S)                          
9-6, 9-1, 9-1
5. Elisabeth McManus (MID) def. Jaye Cooke (S)                           9-2, 9-1, 9-0
6. Katie Hawkins (MID) def. Mary Opler (S)                         
9-1, 9-0, 9-0
7. Kara Zarchin (MID) def. Nikhila Gill (S)                                       9-2, 9-0, 9-0
8. Brooke Beatt (MID) def. Alice Reznickova (S)                              9-0, 9-0 9-2
9. Elizabeth Parker (MID) def. Mercedes Pepper (S)                        9-0, 9-1, 9-1

Tufts (2-4)       9         
Smith (1-3)      0

1. Rebecca Rice (TUFTS) def. Beatrice Bircher (S)                          9-3, 9-5, 9-1
2. Jules Avrutin (TUFTS) def. Shanita Williams (S)                          9-4, 9-4, 9-2   
3. Victoria Barba (TUFTS) def. Kate Whitesell (S)                           9-2, 9-1, 9-3
4. Stefanie Marx (TUFTS) def. Talia Williams (S)                             9-5, 9-3, 9-5               
5. Liz Thys (TUFTS) def. Jaye Cooke (S)                                        9-2, 9-1, 9-0
6. Jessica Hermann (TUFTS) def. Mary Opler (S)                            9-1, 9-0, 9-0
7. Micela Leis (TUFTS) def. Nikhila Gill (S)                           
 9-0, 9-0, 9-0
8. Katie Stork (TUFTS) def. Alice Reznickova (S)                            9-1, 9-0, 9-0
9. Simone Grant (TUFTS) def. Mercedes Pepper (S)                        9-0, 9-1, 9-2
Exhibition
10. Morgan Glasebrook (TUFTS) def. Katrina Duggan (S)                9-0, 9-1, 9-1