SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (Feb. 28, 2012) – Sophomore Randima Ranaweera has earned the Lyon of the Week Award after her spectacular showing at the College Squash Association National Championships over the weekend. Playing at the top of the lineup, she posted shutouts in all three of her matches, dropping just 55 points in the process.
Mount Holyoke entered the weekend seeded sixth amongst Kurtz Cup (B Division) competitors. After falling 8-1 to third-seeded Brown University on Friday, the Lyons bounced back with a thrilling 6-3 triumph over seventh-seeded Hamilton College on Saturday. In doing so, they tied the program record for wins in a season with 17 and punched their ticket to Sunday's Consolation Championship. They ended their year with a 6-3 setback to Columbia University.
Ranaweera got things going with an 11-7, 11-7, 11-6 victory over Brown's Dori Rahbar. After topping Hamilton's Amanda Thorman 11-7, 11-7, 11-7, she rolled to an 11-6, 11-6, 11-2 triumph over Columbia's Alisha Maity.
As a result of its performance this weekend, Mount Holyoke (17-11) will finish the season ranked 14th in the nation. Ranaweera and senior Shara Robertson will represent the Lyons at the CSA Individual Championships this weekend. The event is slated to take place at Amherst College from Friday through Sunday.
Ranaweera will enter the tournament with an overall record of 19-6 this season. Over the course of her career, she has gone 35-19.
