MEDFORD, MA (November 18, 2023) -- The No. 12 Tufts University men's squash team got its season underway on Saturday afternoon, knocking off No. 23 Hobart College 7-2 in play from the Tufts Squash Center.
The bottom of the lineup was stellar for the Jumbos on Saturday in the 2023-24 opener, as the Jumbos won spots No. 4 through No. 9 as it showed its strength and depth. The Jumbos also won the bottom four matches in straight games, while one of its losses at No. 2 came due to retirement.
The Jumbos got a season-starting victory from their top player in
Harry Charlton, who shook off a game three loss to earn an 11-9, 11-4, 7-11, 11-3 victory over Hussein Labib of Hobart. The Statesmen (0-1) picked up wins at No. 2 and No. 3 singles, but
Youssef Ezzo started the success towards the bottom of the ladder with a 12-10, 11-8, 3-11, 11-7 win at No. 4.
At No. 5, sophomore
Jared Chin opened his second season with the Jumbos with a hard-fought five-game win over Sebi De La Vega with scores of 5-11, 11-3, 11-5, 7-11 and 11-3. Tufts No. 6
Rohan Valia picked up a three-game win with scores of 11-0, 11-5 and 11-4, while first-year
Nachiket Desai earned his first collegiate win with an 11-3, 11-2 and 11-3 win.
Fellow first-year
Rutva Samant was victorious in his first collegiate match at No. 8, knocking off James Mazzarelli 11-6, 11-5 and 11-7. At No. 9,
Shivin Kumar cruised to a win over A.R. Medin with a final count of 11-3, 11-4 and 11-6.
The No. 12 Jumbos will have a quick turnaround this weekend, traveling to No. 4 Trinity College in Hartford, Conn. Sunday in the first battle between New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) squads this season at 1 p.m.
--JUMBOS--
