MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – The 27th-ranked Haverford College men's squash team dropped a 6-3 decision to Liberty League opponent No. 30 Denison (4-4) in the opening match of the Connecticut Round Robin on Friday afternoon. The neutral-site contest was played at the Rosenbaum Squash Center on the campus of Wesleyan University.

Denison struck first at the top of the ladder, where Juan Felipe Hernandez controlled the front of the court in a straight-game victory over Aaryaman Jaising, 11–1, 11–0, 11–2. The Big Red added a second point in the No. 2 flight, as Nathan Cukierman claimed an 11–4, 11–6, 11–3 win over Henry Jiang.

Charlie Fenwick IV continued Denison's momentum in the third flight with another straight-game result, defeating Kai Schinaman by scores of 11–4, 11–3, and 11–2.

Haverford pushed back in one of the most competitive matches of the day at the No. 4 position. Ben Levy won the opening two games before Alex DeLuca rallied to force a decisive fifth game. DeLuca though, ultimately secured the win, 9–11, 10–12, 13–11, 11–8, 11–7.

Denison continued control in the fifth flight where Ross Falcon earned a three-game victory over Jet Li, 11–6, 12–10, 11–9. The Fords responded in the sixth flight, as Qianzhi Zhao secured a four-game win against Jackson Bragman, 11–7, 10–12, 11–3, 11–5.

The Big Red added another point in the seventh flight behind Aimaan Zakaria, who claimed a straight-game victory over Advait Chandramouli in a match featuring extended rallies, winning 11–9, 15–13, and 14–12.

Haverford answered in the eighth flight, with Dean Ibrahim closing out Wylly Molten in three games, 11–7, 11–7, 11–8. The ninth flight also went the Fords' way, as Francis Betkowski posted a straight-game win over Owen Mullaly, 13–11, 11–8, 11–1. However, Denison sealed the overall match with a 6-3 victory.

The Fords return to action on Saturday, January 17, as they continue the Connecticut Round Robin against No. 28 Wesleyan (Conn.) at 10:00 a.m.