Athletics News and Press Releases

January 26th, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jen Steele
(413) 585-3076

Squash Team Opens Up MHC/Smith Invitational

Northampton, MA: The Pioneers opened the MHC/Smith Invitational with matches against both Franklin and Marshall College and Middlebury College on the first day of competition. Smith dropped both matches, losing to Franklin and Marshall 1-8 and Middlebury 0-9.

Despite a thirty-minute delay against Franklin and Marshall, the Pioneers were still focused and enthusiastic at match-time. Unfortunately, the hard-hitting Diplomats quickly found open spots on the court that were just outside of the Pioneers’ reach. Senior Beatrice Bircher (Bern, SWITZERLAND) slotted the only victory for Smith as she totally dominated the number one spot. Her tenacious retrieving nullified the shot making of Franklin and Marshall’s Jessica Mitchell. Bircher took the match in three games with scores of 9-3, 9-0, and 9-2.

Other bright spots in the first match included junior Kate Whitesell’s (Easton, MD) performance against number two Davinia Buckley. Whitesell see-sawed her way through a tactical match against the hard-hitting Buckley but ultimately fell 2-3. Alice Reznickova (Czech Republic) played well in the number seven spot as she battled the Diplomats’ Katie Gaskins. Although Reznickova is just a first year player with five weeks of experience, she displayed great court maturity as she caused Gaskins to commit several errors off her soft lob serves.

Despite their aggressive efforts, the Pioneers were unable to take any matches from Middlebury. The lower order of Middlebury’s lineup proved much more experienced than many of the first-year Smith players. In the top of the order, junior Kate Whitesell was once again the shining hope for the Pioneers as she continued to apply pressure to the Panther’s Sally Hatfield. Although Whitesell was unable to walk away with the victory, she showed great improvement from last year’s match up in which she lost 0-3.

At the conclusion of day one the Pioneers sit at 0-2. Regardless of record, they are excited to get back on the courts tomorrow as they face off with both Colby and Wellesley College. The Pioneers have faced the Wellesley Blue twice this season and are hoping to pull away with a victory tomorrow. The Colby match is slotted for 12:30 pm, followed by the Wellesley match up at 3:30 pm.

Match 1: Franklin and Marshall College- 8, Smith College- 1
1.   Beatrice Bircher (SC) def. Jessica Mitchell (FM) 9-3, 9-0, 9-2
2.   Davinia Buckley (FM) def. Kate Whitesell (SC) 1-9, 9-6, 0-9, 9-3, 9-6
3.   Amanda Lesko (FM) def. Talia Williams (SC) 9-0, 9-4, 9-3
4.   Tracey Sole (FM) def. Jess MacLeod (SC) 9-1, 9-2, 9-3
5.   Barbara Bee (FM) def. Mary Opler (SC) 9-1, 9-2, 9-0
6.   Courtney Mulligan (FM) def. Sara Smyth (SC) 9-4, 9-1, 9-2
7.   Katie Gaskins (FM) def. Alice Reznickova (SC) 9-1, 9-3, 7-9, 9-6
8.   Dana Russo (FM) def. Katrina Duggan (SC) 9-0, 9-4, 9-0
9.   Kelsey Tylus (FM) def. Mercedes Pepper (SC) 9-2, 9-1, 9-4

Match 2: Middlebury College- 9, Smith College- 0
1.   Hannah Baker (MC) def. Beatrice Bircher (SC) 9-0, 9-0, 9-0
2.   Sally Hatfield (MC) def. Kate Whitesell (SC) 9-6, 9-7, 1-9, 10-8
3.   Avery Tilney (MC) def. Talia Williams (SC) 9-0, 5-9, 9-6, 9-4
4.   Elisabeth McMorris (MC) def. Jessica MacLeod (SC) 9-0, 9-0, 9-0
5.   Caroline Woodworth (MC) def. Mary Opler (SC) 9-0, 9-0, 9-1
6.   Katie Hawkins (MC) def. Saray Smyth (SC) 9-1, 9-0, 9-2
7.   Kara Zarchin (MC) def. Alice Reznickova (SC) 9-0, 9-0, 9-0
8.   Ellie Beuchner (MC) def. Katrina Duggan (SC) 9-1, 9-1, 9-0
9.   Brooke Beatt (MC) def. Mercedes Pepper (SC) 9-0, 9-0, 9-1

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