CAMBRIDGE - On Friday afternoon the Tufts University women's squash team defeated Williams College, 6-3, in the quarterfinals of the Kurtz Cup during the 2022 College Squash Association (CSA) National Collegiate Team Championships hosted at Harvard University. The Jumbos were the fourth seed in the bracket and the Ephs were the fifth seed.
The Jumbos, currently ranked No. 12 in the national poll, improved their overall record to 9-4 and 3-0 versus No. 13 Williams College this season. Freshman Ellie Ackerman in the sixth position and senior Diya Sanghi (pictured) in the seventh position started things off for the Jumbos with their 3-1 victories. Sophomore Caroline Chin fell in a closely contested match in the #2 slot with scores of 11-3, 11-13, 11-13, 13-15. The next three matches were all 3-0 sweeps that sealed the victory for the Jumbos. At #4 freshman Aleezah Burhan defeated the Ephs' Kathryn Wright 11-7, 11-9, 14-12, Sophomore Ami Sao posted scores of 11-3, 11-8, 15-13, and junior Isa Schneider defeated Mira Kamat to guarantee the team victory for Tufts.
Yu Quan Ng from Williams was able to hold on for a point for the Ephs with her five-set win over sophomore Sanjana Vissapragada in the third position. Vissapragada came out strong with scores of 11-9 and 11-4 in the first two sets, but ultimately dropped the next three sets 4-11, 12-14, and 8-11. Senior Megan Chen fell in four sets in the ninth position with scores of 11-7, 2-11, 10–12, 10-12. In a thrilling battle in the first position freshman Riddhi Joshi defeated Haley Jefferson in the last match of the evening in five sets (5-11, 11-9, 11-8, 9-11, 11-8).
The Jumbos face Cornell University in the Kurtz semifinals tomorrow, Feb. 26th, at 4:00 PM. Cornell defeated Bowdoin College 9-0 in a quarterfinal match-up on Friday to advance. Williams drops into the consolation bracket and will play Saturday at 1:00 PM.
> 2022 CSA National Collegiate Team Championships Website
