MEDFORD - The 12th-ranked Tufts University women's squash team earned its first win against Amherst College since 2007 this afternoon in a dominating 8-1 final at Tufts Squash Center.
Tufts (6-2, 5-0 NESCAC) dropped today's first match that finished, with Amherst's Callie Delalio taking an 11-3, 11-7, 12-10 win in the third spot. However, the Jumbos ran off eight straight victories from there to clinch the win. It's the program's first against the Mammoths since December 6, 2007.
A four-game victory by Nieve Monderer (11-6, 12-10, 6-11, 11-8) in the #5 position tied the match at 1-1 for Tufts. The Jumbos went ahead when Megan Chen came from down 1-0 and 2-1 to win 9-11, 11-3, 6-11, 12-10, 11-4 in the ninth spot. Caroline Chin won quickly at #2 11-9, 11-7, 11-6 for a 3-1 Tufts advantage.
Another three-game win by Ellie Ackerman at the #8 position (11-6, 11-4, 11-9) gave the hosts a 4-1 lead. Then Isa Schneider (pictured) clinched the team win with the Jumbos' fifth victory, an 8-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-7 final at #6.
A win by seventh player Diya Sanghi (11-8, 11-8, 11-7) made it 6-1 Tufts. In the #1 match, Tufts' Riddhi Joshi won 11-7, 8-11, 11-5, 11-9 against Amherst's Daksha Pathak. Then Aleezah Burhan closed out the convincing Tufts victory by 11-8, 11-9, 11-9 in the fourth match.
Amherst, who entered as the #10 team in the College Squash Association poll, dropped to 8-2. It was their first loss to a NESCAC opponent (5-1).
The Jumbos have another NESCAC match at Bowdoin next Saturday.
