No . 9 Virginia Defeats No. 16 Navy In 8-1 Victory
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.- The No. 9 Virginia men’s squash team (4-0) concluded its homestand with an 8-1 win over No. 16 Navy (3-2) on Wednesday (Nov. 13) at the McArthur Squash Center.
Virginia opened the match with back-to-back wins in positions seven and six. Junior William Braff (Locust Valley, N.Y.) defeated Thomas Rankin 11-2, 11-3, 11-4 just seconds before freshman Cullen Little topped Ben Korn 11-6, 11-3, 8-11, 11-6 for a 2-0 Cavalier start.
Sophomore Patrick McElroy (Brookline, Mass.) moved the score to 3-0 with a 11-8, 11-6, 11-5 win over Millen Randall in position four as freshman Aly Hussein (Cairo, Egypt) followed, defeating Jonathan Lentz 11-6, 11-2, 11-5 in position one. Freshman Peter Miller (Bryn Mawr, Pa.) clinched the match point with a 12-10, 11-6, 11-4 win in position nine against Joe Kacergis.
The Cavaliers continued to battle as freshman Teddy Durfee (Bedford, N.Y.) recorded his first collegiate win with a 11-8, 11-6, 11-1 victory against Gus Prager in position eight. Freshman Omar El Torkey (New Cairo, Egypt) defeated Michael Kacergis 11-3, 11-6, 11-9 in position two while sophomore Glenn Yates (Cape Town, South Africa) captured the last UVA point with a 9-11, 11-1, 11-4, 11-7 win against Ryan York in position five.
“A great result from the men against the Naval Academy – a team that we have never managed to beat before, despite a couple of very close ones,” head coach Mark Allen said. “Thanks to Navy coach Tyler Osborne for making the trip to Charlottesville, which was the first time we have been able to play them at home since I have been coaching the UVA team. Home or away, they are always very well prepared, fit and strong, so even when we opened up the evening with four 3-0 victories from Hussein, Braff (William), Braff (Andrew) and McElroy, I was pleased that none of our players eased up in anyway either mentally or physically, and as a result it ended up being a decisive win that will bring the entire team confidence.
“Now on to the next one, which will be Friday’s away match versus George Washington, and though this is early in the season, this match could end up having important ramifications for our placement in the CSA national championships come February, as currently GW is ranked eighth in the country and we are ranked ninth. For the UVA squash fans in the D.C. area, I encourage you to come out to the Lerner Health & Wellness Center at George Washington to cheer us on for what promises to be a very close and competitive match.”
Virginia will return to action on Friday (Nov. 15) for its first road match of the season. The Cavaliers will travel to Washington D.C. for a 5:30 p.m. match against No. 8 George Washington.
No. 9 Virginia def. No. 16 Navy 8-1
Order of Finish: 7, 6, 4, 1, 9, 8, 2, 5, 3
1 | Aly Hussein (UVA) def. Jonathan Lentz (N) 11-6, 11-2, 11-5
2 | Omar El Torkey (UVA) def. Michael Kacergis (N) 11-3, 11-6, 11-9
3 | Owen Davis (N) def. Will Holey (UVA) 11-8, 11-8, 11-5
4 | Patrick McElroy (UVA) def. Millen Randell (N) 11-8, 11-6, 11-5
5 | Glenn Yates (UVA) def. Ryan York (N) 9-11, 11-1, 11-4, 11-7
6 | Cullen Little (UVA) def. Ben Korn (N) 11-6, 11-3, 8-11, 11-6
7 | William Braff (UVA) def. Thomas Rankin (N) 11-2, 11-3, 11-4
8 | Teddy Durfee (UVA) def. Gus Prager (N) 11-8, 11-6, 11-1
9 | Peter Miller (UVA) def. Joe Kacergis (N) 12-10, 11-6, 114
Exh | Andrew Braff (UVA) def. Thomas Prim (N) 11-3, 11-2, 11-6