HAVERFORD, Pa. – The No. 28 Haverford College women's squash team (4-7) earned wins over No. 27 William Smith and No. 31 Vassar on Saturday inside the GIAC Squash Courts. Haverford defeated William Smith, 6-3, before defeating Vassar, 8-1. The two-match day served as the Mental Health and Suicide Awareness Games in honor of Thomas Saltoun Braun, brother of Daniel Braun, who plays on the Haverford College men's squash team.
#28 Haverford 6, #27 William Smith 3
Starting off in the sixth flight, Amy Saxon put the Scarlet and Black on the board after cruising past Teghan Torrey in straight games, 11–3, 11–2, 11–5, controlling the match from the opening serve. However, the top flight belonged to Jada Smith-Padmore, as she dispatched Joelle Phuah, 11–4, 11–7, 11–8.
The Fords added another point in the fourth flight, where Avallina Orfield swept Scarlett Sandoval, 11–8, 11–5, 11–5, with steady pressure throughout the match. The seventh rung of the ladder proved pivotal, as Madeline Bulbulia dropped the opening game before rallying past Danie DeZart, 8–11, 11–4, 11–4, 11–4, to claim the clash. The ninth flight went the other way, however, with Sadie Sanchez edging Sarah Kotapka in three close games, 12–10, 11–6, 11–9, trimming the Haverford lead to 3-2.
In the fifth flight, Ofri Geva prevailed over Kimberly Javier, rolling to a straight-game victory, 11–4, 11–3, 11–3, for the fourth Scarlet and Black point. The second flight featured a tightly contested battle, as Jessica Finnerty outlasted Zoe Liu in four games, 11–9, 9–11, 11–4, 11–7, pulling the Herons within one point, 4-3.
Julia Carrasco then picked up a major point for the Fords, overpowering Tamia Rollaing, 11–3, 11–7, 11–2, to push Haverford to a 5-3 lead.
The match concluded in the eighth flight, where Matilda Chartener capped the afternoon with a commanding sweep of Ashley Ambrosio, 11–2, 11–5, 11–1, to secure the 6-3 victory for Haverford.
#28 Haverford 8, Vassar 1
The Fords started out with a momentous quick four points, beginning with a default win in the ninth flight. That was followed by sweeps from Madeline Bulbulia (11–2, 11–6, 11–5 over Iesha DeSilva in the sixth flight), Matilda Chartener (11–0, 11–5, 11–2 over Ariadni Markantonaki Kouletaki in the seventh flight), and Sarah Kotapka (11–0, 11–4, 11–3 over Lan Legros in the eighth flight), giving Haverford a commanding 4-0 advantage.
Joelle Phuah followed suit, turning away Charlotte Tobin, 11–2, 11–9, 11–3, in the top flight, before Ofri Geva increased the hosts' lead to 6-0 after an 8–11, 11–8, 11–0, 11–9 four-game victory.
Vassar got on the board in the third flight as Adriana Ordaya prevailed over Julia Carrasco, 12–10, 6–11, 11–9, 11–8, before a thrilling five-game victory by Zoe Liu over Hope Fireison, 11–6, 5–11, 11–9, 8–11, 14–12, made it 7-1.
Amy Saxon closed out the match with an 11–4, 11–4, 11–8 victory over Lexi Donshik to secure the 8-1 win for the Fords.
Next up, Haverford women's squash will remain at home, as the Scarlet and Black take on No. 20 Dickinson (10:30 a.m.) and No. 26 Franklin & Marshall (3:30 p.m.) on Saturday, February 7, inside the GIAC Squash Courts.
