NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Powered by quick starts from the bottom of the ladder, the Mount Holyoke College squash team defeated Haverford College, 8-1 in the consolation semifinals of the Epps Cup at the 2016 CSA Women's Team Championships, hosted by Yale University.

With the victory, the Lyons move to 7-16 overall and will face Vassar College on Sunday in the consolation finals. The match, which will start at 3pm, will be played at Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford, Conn. Haverford slips to 6-13 on the season.

The Lyons opened up this evening's match in fine fashion as the lower half of the ladder picked up early victories to open the lead. First year Tanishka Sachidanand defeated Haverford's Atalana Henderson by an11-6, 11-4, 11-5 margin at nine, while classmate Lessly Portillo was an 11-3, 11-9, 11-4 winner against Grace Fioramonti-Gorchow at six.

In the fifth position, MHC sophomore Emily Chang powered her way to an 11-6, 11-2, 11-3 victory over Sabina Aliev, while at eight, senior Rose Minichiello defeated Emilia Cobbs, 11-3, 11-8, 11-6.

Haverford got on the board in the second position as Isabelle Gotuaco bested junior Allison Shilling, 4-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-8, but the Lyons responded as first year Ragini Ghose posted an 11-2, 11-3, 11-3 win over Sarah Madigan at three to make it a 5-1 lead for MHC.

Senior Annie Wong pushed the lead to 6-1 next as she recorded an 11-0, 11-7, 11-5 win against Ava Lichauco at seven. Sophomore Brandy Williamson then won from the top position, besting Bethany Simmonds, 11-0, 11-4, 11-6, before senior captain Catherine Ryan closed out the match with an 11-8, 9-11, 11-2, 11-1 win over Isabel Agnew at four.