CLINTON, NY — The #7 Amherst College women's squash team saw its NESCAC title bid halted in the semifinals on Sunday, falling 5–4 to #11 Tufts, the tournament's third seed. The Mammoths were looking to improve upon last year's semifinal run, but just fell short. The matchup was a rematch of Amherst's earlier 5–4 road win over the Jumbos in the regular season, but this time Tufts reversed the result and snapped the Mammoths' 10-match win streak. Amherst's record now stands at 15–2 for the season.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
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First-year Fionnoula Brandon delivered Amherst's quickest win of the day at #7 singles, cruising past Sejal Virk 3–0 (11–6, 11–5, 11–5) in just 22 minutes. Her efficient performance gave the Mammoths an important middle-order point in an attempt to swing the momentum to Amherst.
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At #8 singles, Katherine Grissom battled through one of the most dramatic matches of the afternoon, defeating Indira Moshi 3–1 (8–11, 13–11, 11–9, 16–14) in 53 minutes. After dropping the opening game, Grissom fought through tight second and third games and then sealed the match in a marathon fourth, winning 16–14 to cap the comeback.
RESULTS (5–4, L):
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Vharshamithraa Dinesh (T) def. Quincy Cline (A), 3–1 (11–5, 12–10, 6–11, 11–6)
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Anastasiia Krykun (A) def. Maria Arseniev (T), 3–1 (11–4, 7–11, 11–4, 11–9)
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Sohni Vermani (T) def. Kanzy Elkaliuoby (A), 3–2 (3–11, 11–9, 11–7, 8–11, 11–3)
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Ella Hill (T) def. Alexandra Brown (A), 3–0 (11–6, 11–7, 11–4)
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Anika Goyal (T) def. Kristen Daniel (A), 3–0 (11–8, 12–10, 11–7)
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Chloe Bergam (T) def. Yana Sharma (A), 3–1 (5–11, 11–7, 11–7, 13–11)
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Fionnoula Brandon (A) def. Sejal Virk (T), 3–0 (11–6, 11–5, 11–5)
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Katherine Grissom (A) def. Indira Moshi (T), 3–1 (8–11, 13–11, 11–9, 16–14)
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Brigid Brandon (A) def. Anika Parr (T), 3–0 (11–5, 11–8, 11–6)
UP NEXT
Amherst now turns its focus to a key non-conference showdown against #12 Drexel on Saturday, February 21 at 1:00 PM in Philadelphia. The Mammoths will look to bounce back quickly from the narrow semifinal loss and sharpen their form ahead of national championship play, and solidify their position in the Top 12, qualifying them for the 1st Division national championship tournament.
