M. Squash happy with No. 7 ranking

The Penn men's squash team enters tomorrow's home match against Williams College riding a four-game winning streak. The Quakers (4-2, 1-2 Ivy) -- currently No. 7 in the latest Squashtalk.com poll -- will be favored against the No. 8 Ephs. After decisive 9-0 victories over Amherst and Bowdoin in Saturday's double-header, the Quakers are extremely confident about their chances. "We came off a good week, and we're going to take advantage of it," sophomore Drew Crockett said. After losing to Williams each of the last three years, Penn is anticipating the opportunity tomorrow's match provides to demonstrate to the country that it is a much-improved team over last year's version. "Williams beat us last year in a close match," sophomore Billy Peelle said. "This is the first time we've been ranked ahead of Williams since I've been here," senior co-captain Sam Miller said. "I think it is a testament to how much we've improved." At the outset of the season, Penn's goal was to finish in the nation's top eight. If they finish in the top eight Penn will be in the top tier at the NISRA championships at the end of the year. At No. 7, the Quakers have been successful thus far, but a loss to Williams would likely push the Quakers out of the top eight. The Quakers feel their depth will be the deciding factor tomorrow. Williams should challenge the Red and Blue in the top four positions on the ladder, but Penn -- from their coach on down -- expects to dominate spots five through nine. "Williams has some firepower at the top," Penn coach Craig Thorpe-Clarke said. "We should be favored comfortably in five through nine." "We're relying on our depth," Miller said. "Five through nine should be the key." In individual play, sophomore Richard Repetto -- currently No. 11 in Squashtalk.com's national individual rankings -- looks to continue his perfect season and improve to 6-0. "I feel that I still need to improve," Repetto said. "Williams is going to be a tough match, but I'm looking forward to Trinity on Saturday." As the Quakers eagerly anticipate Saturday's match against No. 1 Trinity, they hope not to underestimate the Ephs. "Everything's going our way," Thorpe-Clarke said. "We are playing at home. The Williams match is a good tune-up for Trinity." Because Williams defeated Bowdoin by a 5-4 margin earlier this season, while the Quakers are fresh off of a 9-0 shutout of Bowdoin in their last match, Penn remains confident that it will get a comfortable win. "We own the NESCAC [New England Small College Athletic Conference]," sophomore Jon Katz said. "Except for Trinity." Penn hopes to translate its momentum, depth and home-court advantage into yet another victory. The Quakers are aspiring to a new height -- the top five. "We have to come out strong to solidify our ranking," junior Matt Vergare said. If the past four matches are any indication, the Quakers' streak should survive. However, the true test will come Saturday, when the Quakers face the nation's pre-eminent program and Repetto takes on the nation's defending intercollegiate champion Bernardo Samper. But the Quakers are taking nothing for granted, knowing that a loss tomorrow will preclude their goal of a top-8 ranking. "We've been playing great," Thorpe-Clarke said. "The guys have worked hard, and they are feeling great about themselves." "We are looking for redemption," Peelle said. "We are going to milk the Purple Cows [Williams] to the very last drop."

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.