Sometimes your seeding simply reflects your team's ability, and such was the case for the women's squash team in the Howe Cup over the weekend. Tufts came to the Howe Cup, the National Championships, as the 15th ranked team in the country and left Princeton, NJ with the same ranking.
The Jumbos lost all three of their matches in the Tournament. They were first blown out by Bates, 9-0, and then dropped two heartbreakers to William Smith and Bowdoin, each by a score of 6-3.
As a result of being ranked 15th, the lowest in their division, the Jumbos were matched up against ninth ranked Bates in the first round. Bates' talent differential was simply too much for the Jumbos to overcome.
Tufts was only able to extend one match beyond the three game minimum against Bates, with freshman Rebecca Rice winning the lone game for the Jumbos. The Jumbos lost to Bates earlier this season by the same score.
On Saturday, in the losers' bracket, the Jumbos had the chance to avenge their 6-3 loss to Bowdoin. The match, however, mirrored that of a week earlier, as the Polar Bears once again defeated the Jumbos 6-3.
Bowdoin's top six players all defeated their Jumbo counterparts, while the Jumbos' seven, eight and nine players made quick work of their Bowdoin opponents, just like last week.
"You simply have to hand it to Bowdoin," senior co-captain Eliza Drachman-Jones said. "They were the better team. We tried as hard as we could, but came up a little short."
On Sunday, the team competed against William Smith with a chance to move up in the ranks on the line. The Jumbos were anticipating the chance to defeat William Smith after losing a tough 5-4 match earlier this season
The Jumbos did not fare any better in the rematch. Tufts was defeated 6-3, sealing its fate as the number 15 team in the nation. Once again, Tufts' seven, eight and nine players, Liz Tyce, Joelle Polivy and Jenny Lange, were all victorious.
"It was really disappointing to lose the match against William Smith," Drachman-Jones said. "They have almost become like our rivals. Each time we play them, the match is usually very tight."
The Howe Cup marked the Jumbos' final match of a season in which they failed to capitalize on a promising start. The Jumbos opened the season by winning eight of their first 12, but ended up losing eight of their last nine matches to finish with an overall record of 8-11.
The only two Jumbos with matches left to play this season are sophomore Jules Avrutin and freshman Rebecca Rice. Both will compete at the Singles National Championship at Yale between March 4 and March 6.
Despite their record, the Jumbos are anything but disappointed, especially since they improved from their number 20 ranking of a year ago.
"When you consider everything, it is really remarkable what we accomplished," Drachman-Jones said. "To finish as the No. 15 team in the nation, without ever really having our full roster, is a testament to the hard-work and character of this team."
For senior captains Drachman-Jones and Nicole Arens, along with classmate Nida Ghouse, the Howe Cup tournament marked the end of their Tufts career.
"I have enjoyed all four years here," Drachman-Jones said. "However, the last one was definitely the best. To watch this team come together and the way we became such good friends was nothing short of awesome. You can always tell, even though squash is an individual sport, which teams have good chemistry and this year's women's squash team was certainly one of them."
When considering their most memorable moments, there will be many for Drachman-Jones and her fellow seniors.
"I will miss the players, the camaraderie, and the competition," Drachman-Jones said. "Coach Eng has meant the world to me. His technical expertise is just the beginning. He is a great life teacher, as he knows how to build character in his players. He has that ideal balance"
"Simply put, Doug is just a great coach," she added.
