This past weekend, the men's squash team finished its season ranked right where it was supposed to be. The Jumbos went into nationals last Friday at Yale ranked 20th in the country, and after three tough matches against formidable competition, they emerged at the same spot.
Coach Doug Eng's squad placed fourth in the third division of the national tournament and finished its season with an 11-10 record.
The Jumbos jumped out to a good start on Friday, easily defeating the University of California at Berkeley six to three behind solid performances by junior captain Colin O'Higgins and freshman Armen Kamenov at the third and fourth spots. The win was an improvement from Tufts' first meeting with UC Berkeley, when the team barely squeaked out a 5-4 victory at Harvard.
But the tide turned for the Jumbos, and Tufts dropped its next two matches to higher- ranked Wesleyan and Hobart. The squad was blanked by Wesleyan nine to zero in the second round, and then dropped the third place match eight to one to Hobart College, with sophomore Nathan Anderson securing the lone tally for his team.
"It was a little disappointing to play the two teams in front of us and lose 9-0 and 8-1," Eng said. "Especially since we had competed better against those teams during the season, and the rematches were not as close as those matches."
The two losses, however, in no way diminish the Jumbos success during the 2000-01 season. The squad battled back from a dismal 3-10 record just a year ago, to finish with a winning record.
"We were [3-10] last season and this year we were 11-10, so it was definitely an improvement," Eng said. "We beat several teams that we never had before."
O'Higgins echoed his coach's sentiments about the team's success: "This is the first time we have had a winning record in a long time," O'Higgins said. "There has been such a big change since my freshman year."
"Last year we didn't push ourselves, but this year we worked hard, played smart, and grew as a team," said Chris Choi, a sophomore. "We knew our goals, set our goals, and we pretty much met them."
Despite the team's improved record, Eng sees room for growth. With young talent and impressive leadership, Tufts expects to climb even farther in the rankings.
"We still know that there is much room for improvement, and that this is not the end of our potential," said Choi, one of seven starting players who will return next season.
"We have a good core of players," Eng said. "I think we can improve two or three spots if we can land a couple of recruits, and maybe move up to the second division."
Of the remaining players, Neil Pallaver, who has played at the first or second spot since his freshman year, will remain important to the team. Despite a less than average record, Pallaver's teammates and his coach insist that his results don't speak for his ability. Playing at the number one spot, the junior is constantly forced to face some of the top players in the country, a factor that figures in his overall record.
"He is an awesome player but gets no recognition because he is playing world class players," O'Higgins said.
"He has been improving every time he steps out on the court." Eng said. "[Neil] plays a lot smaller and better than his results offer. He is certainly one of the smartest players around."
Although most of the squad will return next season, the younger players must compensate for the loss of two key seniors who for years have been an integral part of the squad. Captain Bennett Kolasinski and fellow senior Dylan McPhetres graduate this spring, and both will be sorely missed next season.
"Dylan was a competitor who always gave 110 percent," Eng said. "Bennett was the guy who kept the team together whether we would win or lose. They have both provided excellent experience and leadership for us."
