MIDDLETOWN, Conn. - The Mount Holyoke College squash team opened play at the 2014 Division III National Tournament on Friday at Wesleyan University. The Lyons, who are ranked 26th in the most recent CSA Women's Poll, saw three players in action for the opening round, including a win by sophomore Sanjna Merchant in the B draw.
Merchant (Mumbai, India/Jai Hind College) posted a 3-1 (11-4, 10-12, 11-2, 11-3) win over Wesleyan's Anne Ferreira. She advances to the next round to face Bates' Chloe Mitchell. Lyons' first year Brandy Williamson (New York, N.Y./Thurgood Marshall Academy) shouldered a tough 3-0 (12-10, 11-5, 11-2) loss in her A draw opener. She squared off against Bates' Nessrine Ariffin, who was not only the Bobcats' top player on the ladder, but also the second-seeded player in the A draw.
Williamson will play on Saturday in the A draw consolation, facing off against Wesleyan's Lauren Nelson.
Senior Xianger Fei (Hangzhou, China/Hangzhou Foreign Language School) fell in B draw action, suffering a 3-0 (11-9, 11-3, 11-6) loss to Wellesley's Rhea Advani.
MHC senior Samantha Rosado (Meriden, Conn./F.T. Maloney) plays her first round match in the B draw on Saturday morning.
