No. 7 Virginia Downs No. 6 Drexel 6-3

PHILADELPHIA – The No. 7 Virginia women’s squash team (5-1, 3-0 MASC) closed out the weekend with a 6-3 victory at No. 6 Drexel (2-2, 2-1 MASC) on Sunday (Nov. 19) at the Kline & Specter Squash Center in Philadelphia, Pa.

This was Virginia’s first-ever regular-season victory against Drexel. The Hoos upset the three-time MASC Champions 5-4 last year in the opening round of the CSA Howe Cup A Division Championship after going winless in the previous seven meetings against the Dragons.

Maria Moya opened the match with an 11-9, 11-4, 11-5 win at three with Megan Best following with a 12-10, 11-2, 11-7 win at the top position. Clare Minnis recovered from dropping her first game to take her final three to put the Cavaliers ahead 3-0. After the Dragons won at seven, Olivia Walsh won a five-gamer at position four to put UVA on the brink of victory. Drexel narrowed the gap with a win at five, but freshman Nili Sprecher guaranteed the victory by coming from behind in the third game to pull out an 11-6, 11-5, 13-11 win. Sophomore Lina Tammam closed out a five-game victory at position two to give the Cavaliers a 6-3 win.

FROM HEAD COACH MARK ALLEN

“The women showed a great deal of resolve today. That was such a physical match they were involved in yesterday, but they backed it up with another outstanding physical effort today. The courts were hot, and the rallies were long, but they’ve really put in a great two months of hard training and practice, and today’s performance was a testament to that. There were some very determined performances all around, but particularly from Nili, Clare, Olivia, Meagan and Maria, who all lost hard-fought losses yesterday but bounced back beautifully with gutsy and determined wins for their team today. They all get a few well-earned days of rest now, and then preparations will begin for two big matches at home against Harvard and Dartmouth.”

UP NEXT

• The Cavaliers are off next weekend before hosting  No. 1 Harvard on Saturday, Dec. 2 and No. 11 Dartmouth on Sunday, Dec. 3, in their final matches of the calendar year
• Both matches start at noon

#7 Virginia 6, #6 Drexel 3

1 | Meagan Best (VA) def. Margot Prow (DRX) 12-10, 11-2, 11-7
2 | Lina Tammam (VA) def. Karina Tyma (DRX) 11-9, 11-6, 7-11, 8-11, 11-9
3 | Maria Moya (VA) def. Emma Bartley (DRX) 11-9, 11-4, 11-5
4 | Olivia Walsh (VA) def. Emi Falconi (DRX) 11-3, 11-6, 8-11, 7-11, 11-3
5 | Lydia Robinson (DRX) def. Maureen Foley (VA) 11-6, 12-10, 11-7
6 | Clare Minnis (VA) def. Dina Rosli (DRX) 9-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-9
7 | Moa Bonnemark (DRX) def. Eliza Mills (VA) 12-10, 7-11, 12-10, 8-11, 11-3
8 | Sanya Vats (DRX) def. Caroline Pellegrino (VA) 11-7, 11-1, 11-9
9 | Nili Sprecher (VA) def. Claudia Adam (DRX) 11-6, 11-5, 13-11
Exh. Maddie Laine (DRX) def. Annabelle MacTaggart (VA) 11-8, 9-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-7