Jumbos lose their ace

Most players have to work their way from the bottom up, developing their talents before attaining the skill level necessary to be competitive as the women's squash team's number one player. Not senior co-captain Winnie So. Last weekend marked the end of an impressive career that saw So playing some of the top squash players in the nation over the past four years.

So ended her run with a disappointing 3-0 loss to 15 seed Jessica Vyrostko of Dartmouth at the NSIRA and WISA Singles Championships at Trinity College in Hartford, CT. The loss concluded So's career high eight game win streak to finish the season. Her 45 career victories fell just four wins shy of the all-time women's squash record at Tufts (49).

"She was one of the few strong players that gave four years," coach Doug Eng said. "She always wants to play, whether or not she's hurting. We always have athletes who have injuries and academic reasons for not playing. She was a squash-first person. We would love all our players to think that way."

So has always played the toughest matches possible while anchoring the Tufts number one spot.

"I didn't break the record," So said. "But the top girl wasn't a four-year number one."

So amassed an overall record of 45-34 at Tufts. Her eight game win streak improved her total to 13-9 on the season-a vast improvement from her 10-10 record last year.

Over the weekend So dropped both matches, 3-0 to Vyrostko and 3-2 in the consolation match against Lisa Marx of Columbia. So was not pleased with her performance.

"I go out there and try my best," So said. "I just wasn't playing well."

Despite losing at nationals, So showed heart throughout the season learning from past defeats. In a display of resilience near the end of the season, she added two rematch victories against number one players Liz Hughes of Mount Holyoke (an eventual 15 seed in the "B" Holleran Division of the Individual Championships) and Wendy Huang of Wellesley.

"I was more concentrated the second time around," So said. "The first time I underestimated them. I had to focus and take the time to work the points."

So not only worked individual points, but worked her opponents as well. She lost her first meetings with Hughes and Huang, 3-0 and 3-1 respectively. However, in the second match up, So came back from a 2-1 deficit to defeat Hughes 3-2. So outlasted Hughes in the 70-point marathon, winning the last two games 9-7, 9-5.

"That was definitely her best match," Eng said.

One week later, So returned to dispatch Huang 3-1, accounting for the lone Jumbo individual victory in the match.

So adapted her approach in order to improve her performance this season.

"I changed my strategy," So said. "I became more patient and had more rallies. I used to focus solely on my own play, now I watch my opponent and I counterattack. I play smarter."

So's new outlook proved effective as she was able to outlast various opponents and make a run at Tufts' all-time victory record. Despite the disappointment this weekend, So finds herself amongst the Jumbo squash elite.

"Before they ranked the girls, we had a girl who was about 30," Eng said. "The record system has been really messed up. Winnie should be about 50."

So's winning ways came to a close this Sunday as she donned the Brown and Blue for the last time. Despite a disappointing weekend, So retains number two all-time on the Tufts women's squash win list.