MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – The Mount Holyoke College squash team concluded their 2018-19 team season on Sunday, falling in the Consolation Championship in the Walker Cup (C Division) at the College Squash Association (CSA) Women's Team National Championships. The 21st-ranked Lyons shouldered a tough loss to 23rd-ranked Wesleyan on the Cardinals' home courts. With the loss, MHC finishes its team schedule at 16-9 and sixth in the Walker Cup, while the Cardinals are now 9-11, taking fifth in the division.
Wesleyan, which fell by a 5-4 margin earlier this season to the Lyons, got their revenge on Sunday with tightly-contested wins through the bottom half of the ladder. Annie Roach earned the win at nine, besting Lyons sophomore Emma Robson by a 3-1 (9-11, 12-10, 11-6, 11-9) margin. From eight, Sofia Melian-Morse got the best of senior captain Tanishka Sachidanand, earning the 3-1 (8-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-6) victory.
From seven, Ale Imperiale earned a 3-1 (7-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-3) victory against Lyons sophomore Kuzivakwashe Madungwe, while Ale Lampietti defeated MHC sophomore Jennifer Mbah, 11-6, 14-12, 11-6 from six. Another tight fight at five saw Natasha Feenstra best Lyons senior captain Lessly Portillo, 3-1 (11-6, 11-4, 7-11, 11-4), while from four, Nina Premutico was a 3-0 (11-5, 11-3, 11-5) winner over MHC rookie Maeve Watts-Roy.
It was a five-game battle at three as Josephine Russ and Lyons senior captain Ragini Ghose fought hard. Ghose opened with a 13-11 win, while Russ countered with an 11-5 score. The duo traded games once again until five when Russ won 11-5 to take the victory. Additionally, Ghose was honored as a CSA Scholar-Athlete at the end of competition.
Mount Holyoke's victories came from the top of the ladder as senior Nadindhi Udangawa powered her way to an 11-9, 11-6, 11-3 win over Ananya Vir at two. The Lyons saw their second point come from rookie Mihiliya Kalahe Arachchige who defeated Aditi Prassad at one. After falling behind in the first game, the first year came roaring back to cruise to an 11-2, 11-5, 11-5 score over the final three for the 3-1 victory.
Though team competition is now over, the Lyons will wait to see who is selected to compete at the 2019 CSA Individual National Championships, which will be held March 1-3 in Providence, R.I., at Brown University and the Moses Brown School.
