MEDFORD - The 16th-ranked Tufts University women's squash team earned their third victory over a NESCAC opponent on Friday evening with a 7-2 win over the 15th-ranked Bates College.
The Jumbos improve to 3-0 in NESCAC play and 4-1 overall, with their only loss going to No. 1 Harvard University. Bates College drops to 2-3 on the season with previous losses to No. 8 Cornell University and No. 9 University of Pennsylvania.
The Jumbos showed strength and consistency all evening while taking five of their wins in three straight sets. Sophomore Sanjana Vissapragada in the No. 3 position defeated Katherine Manternach with scores of 11-5, 11-4, 11-5. Freshman Aleezah Burhan and freshman Nieve Monderer were both impressive with three set victories in the fourth and fifth positions, respectively. In the sixth position senior Diya Sanghi turned in scores of 11-4, 11-6, 11-4 and sophomore Ami Sao allowed only twelve points in her 3-0 sweep of Natalie Bachman.
In an exciting five set match, senior captain Megan Chen (pictured) was able to hold off Cordelia Dotson in the eighth position. After dropping the first two sets 8-11 and 10-12, Chen rallied to take the last three sets in a thrilling fashion with scores of 11-9, 14-12, and 11-7. In another competitive match at the No. 7 position freshman Ellie Ackerman took down Victoria Haghighi of Bates with scores of 13-11, 12-14, 11-7, 11-5.
Tufts received their only losses of the evening in the No. 1 and No. 2 positions when both freshman Riddhi Joshi and sophomore Caroline Chin were defeated after grueling five set battles. Joshi fell to Bates' Andrea Martagon 6-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-13, 11-13 and Erika Maria Parker-Schmidt of Bates outlasted Chin in a five set win that would take 52 minutes to complete.
The Jumbos continue NESCAC play with No. 13 Williams College on Thursday, Dec. 9, at 5 pm. Bates College faces another tough NESCAC opponent on Saturday, December 4th when they take on No. 2 Trinity College at 5 pm.
Written by Resa Provanzano, Athletic Communications Assistant
