W. Squash ends season well

If the end of this year is a good indicator as to how the Penn women's squash will perform next year, then there is quite a bit to which to look forward.

The Quakers sent three of its top players to the Intercollegiate Championships at Princeton this weekend for the final individual competition of the year.

The Red and Blue finished the year ranked No. 9 after their triumph in the B Division of the Howe Cup at Yale two weekends ago.

Runa Reta came into the tournament as the No. 4 seed. The two time All-American, and the Quakers top player all season, reached the semifinals of the main draw, before falling to the top seed in five games.

Freshman Linda McNair also posted a strong performance, advancing to the semis of the consolation draw. McNair, the No. 12 seed, exceeded all expectations and had a chance to play for the consolation title. The freshman barely fell short, losing 9-7 in the fifth and deciding game.

Rohini Gupta, also a freshman, finished the season on the winning track. Gupta, the No. 3 seed in the B division, also reached the finals of her bracket.

Gupta felt she had a shot at winning the division.

"I don't think I was as focused on the last day, maybe because it was early for me," she said. "It was a pretty good weekend, though. There was lots of good squash."

Reta was also pleased with both her season, as well as the team's.

"I did better than most people expected," Reta said. "We did as best as we could as a team at the end. Next year we can aim on improving on that."

Coach Jim Martel was pleased with the Quakers resilience throughout the season, especially towards the end.

"Winning the B flight at the Howe Cup was a good way to end up the somewhat frustrating season," the first-year coach said. "We didn't win any Ivy League matches, however the young team gained lots of experience this year playing at higher levels for the most part.

"With a good recruiting group this year we are looking for higher expectations for the upcoming season," he said.

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