As a pair of back-to-back wins over nationally ranked William Smith and Amherst closed out the women's squash team's first-semester schedule, the Jumbos now have a chance to regroup and recharge.
But when they return to Medford in early January, the team will have big shoes to fill. Junior Rebecca Rice, the team's No. 1 player for the past two seasons, will be studying in Paris next semester and will leave a vacancy at the top of the lineup.
Rice has never played below the top three slots and has posted 11 wins at the No. 1 position against the top players from some of the nation's best programs. During her freshman and sophomore years, Rice earned a berth in the prestigious College Squash Association's Individual Championships.
"Rebecca is really solid at No. 1," Jules Avrutin said. "It's a really hard position to be in, but she always stayed positive, which helps everyone else stay positive."
But the Jumbos will be bolstered in Rice's absence by depth down the roster, which was on full display in a 7-2 win over Amherst on Thursday, in which the fifth through ninth players won in three straight games. The bottom third of the Tufts lineup also contributed two of the team's four wins against No. 18 William Smith on Dec. 2.
This strength at the bottom is matched by a top third of the roster that has pulled its own weight this year. Avrutin and freshman Stefanie Marx, who has been a rock in the middle of the lineup at No. 4, are tied at a team-best 62.5 winning percentage. Marx pulled off one of the team's two wins in a 7-2 loss to No. 20 Stanford on Nov. 18.
Because squash rules ban stacking - the practice of putting better players lower in the ladder to secure easier wins - Avrutin will likely move to the No.1 spot. Avrutin is the only current player with experience at the position after playing there during her freshman and sophomore years.
"Jules is a really good competitor; give her a tough match-up and she can really step up her game," Rice said.
As Victoria Barba will move up to the No. 2 slot, Marx will be tested against fiercer competition in the No. 3 position.
"[The top of the lineup] runs very close together," coach Doug Eng said. "I have no doubt that Jules can handle the No. 1, but it will be whoever is playing well in certain in certain circumstances. It's going to be tough without Rebecca. We will have to get everyone to step up to the next level."
- Meghan Becque
