Most collegiate teams will send their No. 1 player to the CSA Individual Tournament this weekend at Dartmouth College. Yet Tufts coach Belkys Velez decided two weeks ago to bypass No.1 Alix Michael to send junior co−captain Mercedes Barba, the team's No.3 player this season, to the national tournament instead.
"I can understand if [Michael] is disappointed, but I think as a coach I will always make my decision for the team. All the girls were working hard and I [made] my decision based on who deserves it," Velez said.
Michael beat out both Barba and senior co−captain Valerie Koo for the No. 1 spot on the ladder for the majority of the team's 9−14 season. Her efforts included a decisive five−game win that earned Tufts a 5−4 victory over Colby in last weekend's Walker Cup, a team win which moved the Jumbos up to No. 21 from No. 24 in the national rankings. In the same match, Barba lost a heartbreaker 11−9 in the fifth set.
Yet despite the fact that Michael was the team's best player all season, Velez still decided that her No. 1 player was not the most deserving candidate to represent Tufts at the national tournament. Velez's first choice was the veteran Koo, who represented Tufts at last year's tournament. Yet the senior co−captain was unable to make the time commitment this weekend, so she went with Barba instead, leaving Michael surprised to find her season ended prematurely.
"I was definitely surprised and disappointed, but ultimately it is the coach's decision, and I wish Mercedes the best of luck because she is a teammate. I hope she does well," Michael said.
According to Velez, Barba's superior effort and devotion to the team was enough to make her more worthy of the spot than Michael.
"As a coach, you have to see who gives you more during the season, who works hard, who was there all the time, which person was doing everything," she said. "Everyone has commitments and other things … but when you are on a team, you have to be part of the team and make time for it," Velez said.
Barba is looking forward to competing in the CSA tournament for her first time. In the two weeks since returning from the Walker Cup, she has practiced consistently with Velez and teammate No. 4 sophomore Jess Rubine to prepare.
"I didn't really question it that much," Barba said of Velez's decision. "I know that's what [my coach] wanted, and it's what made sense in the end for our team."
Barba has undoubtedly had her high points this season, including the only individual Tufts wins against NESCAC opponents Hamilton and Bowdoin. She is one of only two players on the team to boast an individual winning record, with 14 wins and only nine losses. Michael, at the No.1 spot, has a record of 6−12, albeit against superior competition.
As captain, Barba has also established herself as a leader on a team in which two starting players came into the season with no prior squash experience.
The weekend will certainly be a challenge for the junior, however, as she will likely be facing either No. 1 players from similarly ranked teams or players from the top three or four spots on higher ranked teams that send numerous players to the tournament. Barba's competition will be stiffer than what she has faced all season long.
"I don't really know what to expect at this point. I think it will be a really good weekend of squash," Barba said. "There will be a lot of great players going, so I'm definitely excited."
