No. 10 Virginia Falls 5-4 Against No. 6 Columbia
The No. 10 Virginia men’s squash team (10-10) had its season come to an end with a 5-4 loss against No. 6 Columbia (8-7) on Saturday (March 2) in the consolation bracket of the Potter Cup during the 2024 CSA National Collegiate Squash Team Championships at the Arlen Specter US Squash Center in Philadelphia, Pa.
The Cavaliers trailed 4-0 in the match before firing off four straight wins to tie it 4-4. The Lions won the remaining match to take the victory.
Moments after Columbia collected its fourth win, senior Taha Dinana completed an 11-8, 11-9, 14-12 win against Franklyn Smith at the top of the ladder. Freshman Dylan Moran had jumped out to a 2-0 lead at seven but dropped his third and fourth games against Rutvik Rau. Moran came back to the decider 11-8.
Sophomore JP Tew and junior Petr Nohel closed out victories within moments of one another, with Tew coming back from losing his first game to win 3-1. Nohel had to battle to 15-13 in his third game to secure the victory and tie the match.
Junior Maxwell Velazquez and Adam Goad were the remaining two players in action, facing off in a battle at No. 8. It took extra points in two of the three games, with Goad winning by the minimum in all three, as he logged a 13-11, 12-10, 11-9 victory to clinch the match for Columbia.
Virginia will finish within the top 8 of the final collegiate rankings for the fourth straight year.
Select members of the team will return to the Arlen Specter US Squash Center next week to compete in the 2024 CSA Individual Championships March 8-10.
FROM HEAD COACH MARK ALLEN
Coming soon
#6 Columbia 5, #10 Virginia 4
- Taha Dinana (VA) def. Franklyn Smith (COL) 11-8, 11-9, 14-12
- JP Tew (VA) def. Harold Castiaux (COL) 6-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-5
- Shaurya Bawa (COL) def. Myles McIntyre (VA) 11-4, 6-11, 11-8, 11-9
- Laszlo Godde (COL) def. Arhan Chandra (VA) 15-13, 11-4, 13-15, 5-11, 11-7
- Petr Nohel (VA) def. Zach Nam (COL) 11-8, 11-7, 15-13
- Paarth Ambani (COL) def. Evan Hajek (VA) 11-8, 11-7, 11-9
- Dylan Moran (VA) def. Rutvik Rau (COL) 11-5, 11-9, 2-11, 8-11, 11-8
- Adam Goad (COL) def. Maxwell Velazquez (VA) 13-11, 12-10, 11-9
- Tommy Soltanian (COL) def. CJ Baldini (VA) 8-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-4