SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. - The Mount Holyoke College squash team put forth a dominant effort on Friday evening, sweeping William Smith College by a 9-0 margin at the Kendall Courts. With the win, the 25th-ranked Lyons move to 13-4, while the 24th-ranked Herons are now 4-5. Additionally, the win for MHC marked its first over the Herons since December 7, 2013 - which was also a 9-0 victory.
Senior captain Tanishka Sachidanand (Karnataka, India/Canadian International School) got the Lyons on the board first, recording an 11-5, 11-2, 11-4 win against junior Maddie Saiontz (Baltimore, Md./Bryn Mawr School) from the eighth spot. MHC pulled ahead by a 2-0 margin after sophomore Jennifer Mbah (Jamaica Plain, Mass./John D. O'Bryant School of Math and Science) bested first year Lillian Molinari (Jamestown, R.I./St. George's).
Next to finish was Lyons' rookie Maeve Watts-Roy (Louisville, Ky./DuPont Manual) who battled through for an 11-4, 11-3, 11-9 victory over Herons' rookie Molly Wachter (Buffalo, N.Y./Nardin Academy) at four. Senior Nadindhi Udangawa (Colombo, Sri Lanka/Colombo International School) put the home team up by a 4-0 margin at two with an 11-5, 11-9, 11-8 win against William Smith senior Madison Bradley (Orchard Park, N.Y./Nardin Academy).
Sophomore Emma Robson (Amherst, Mass./Amherst Regional) sealed the Lyons victory from the ninth spot, recording an 11-5, 11-3, 11-2 score against first year Saige Arseneault (Greene, Maine/Leavitt).
Next off was the fifth spot on the ladder as senior captain Lessly Portillo (New Haven, Conn./Hill Regional Career Magnet) battled past junior Hattye Hytla (Amissville, Va./Mercersburg Academy), 11-7, 11-0, 11-6.
Sophomore Kuzivakwashe Madungwe (Harare, Zimbabwe/Arundel School)) went on to best first year Gretchen Vietor (Scituate, Mass./Portsmouth Abbey School), 11-6, 11-5, 11-3 from seven, while at three, senior captain Ragini Ghose (Dubai/Millfield School) recorded an 11-5, 11-6, 12-10 win over senior Michaelann Denton (Kingston, Jamaica/Berkshire School).
Rookie Mihiliya Kalahe Arachchige (Panadura, Sri Lanka/Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya Colombo 7) wrapped up the match and the win from the top of the ladder, notching an 11-6, 11-7, 11-8 win over junior Gabby Fraser (Toronto, Ont./Mercersberg).
Mount Holyoke is back on the court on Saturday when it hosts Bates (4pm) and Tufts (6pm) at the Kendall Courts. William Smith is also in action at MHC on Saturday as the Herons and Hobart play Bates (10am), while the two teams will then square off against Tufts (1pm).
