No. 7 Virginia Falls 7-2 at No. 8 Columbia
NEW YORK – The No. 7 Virginia men’s squash team (1-2, 1-0 MASC) suffered a 7-2 loss at No. 8 Columbia (1-0, 0-0 Ivy) on Sunday (Nov. 12) at the SL Green StreetSquash Center in New York, N.Y.
Junior CJ Baldini and senior Maxwell Velazquez picked up the points for the Cavaliers.
Baldini won his fourth game 12-10 to close out an 11-6, 11-5, 7-11, 12-10 win at six. Velazquez won 3-0 (11-8, 11-4, 11-6) against Ryan Chen at seven.
Freshman Krishna Mishra battled through five games before being edged 8-11, 11-5, 11-5, 9-11, 11-8 by Franklyn Smith.
FROM HEAD COACH MARK ALLEN
“Despite the 7-2 loss, there were some really good performances. Max played at the top of his game, fast-paced and clinical on the volley for a quick and very decisive win. Drew was locked in and fought until the very last shot was hit – his performance was one he should feel very proud of and can build upon. And I was really happy with the team’s composure today. It’s a difficult venue to play in – the Columbia crowd really gets behind their players. But our team behaved impeccably and kept their cool regardless of the commotion going on around them. And the last couple of guys out there demonstrated a huge amount of character and grit. With the match already sewn up by Columbia, Krishna still battled hard, and once he has a couple more tough matches under his belt, he is going to be a formidable force for UVA Squash. CJ played what I think was his very best game of squash yet in a UVA uniform. He’s been working so hard, and today he got the result that this deserves.”
#8 Columbia 7, #7 Virginia 2
1 | Harold Castiaux (COL) def. Taha Dinana (VA) 4-11, 11-5, 11-7, 12-10
2 | Shaurya Bawa (COL) def. JP Tew (VA) 6-11, 11-7, 11-4, 17-15
3 | Franklyn Smith (COL) def. Krishna Mishra (VA) 8-11, 11-5, 11-5, 9-11, 11-8
4 | Laszlo Godde (COL) def. Myles McIntyre (VA) 11-9, 11-9, 8-11, 11-3
5 | Zach Nam (COL) def. Evan Hajek (VA) 11-4, 9-11, 11-7, 14-12
6 | CJ Baldini (VA) def. Tommy Soltanian (COL) 11-6, 11-5, 7-11, 12-10
7 | Maxwell Velazquez (VA) def. Ryan Chen (COL) 11-8, 11-4, 11-6
8 | Rutvik Rau (COL) def. Drew Barr (VA) 6-11, 7-11, 11-6, 12-10, 11-6
9 | Paarth Ambani (COL) def. Charles Braff (VA) 11-3, 11-5, 11-4
Exh. Jacob Bulbulia (COL) def. Patrick Keller (VA) 11-5, 11-7, 11-7