Shortly after a strong NESCAC tournament in which the women's squash team ballooned its win total from one to three, the Jumbos fell victim to Brown on Tuesday night in a battle of two top−25 squads.
The Bears, ranked 10th in the latest College Squash Association poll, rolled through No. 25 Tufts 9−0, winning all but two matches in straight sets.
In the No. 2 slot, sophomore Alix Michael put up the strongest fight, taking the second set versus Brown senior Kali Schellenberg 15−13 before succumbing in the final two, 11−8 and 11−2.
Michael's classmate, Mercedes Barba, also enjoyed some success at the No. 3 position, capturing the first set 11−8 before dropping three straight to Bears sophomore Erika Rhonen. At the top position, Brown freshman Sarah Crosky struggled with junior tri−captain Val Koo, ceding 25 total points throughout the match, but ultimately closing it out in straight sets by 11−8, 12−10 and 11−7 margins.
The bottom of the Jumbos' ladder, though, had a harder time with Brown. At the 7th, 8th and 9th positions, the Bears allowed just 22 combined points in nine total sets.
At 3−13 overall, Tufts now turns its attention to a home meet with Wellesley College on Thursday at Belmont Hill School at 6:30 p.m. before taking a two−week break leading up to the Howe Cup at Yale. One of the Jumbos' three wins this year came on Dec. 3 when the squad rolled 9−0 over the Blue.
