Top 5 combined squash moments from 2012-13

1. No. 1? No problem for women’s squash

In the third-place game of the Howe Cup, Penn’s women’s squash exacted revenge on its conference rival, Princeton. The Red and Blue dominated the top-ranked Tigers, 7-2, and gave Princeton its first Ivy loss of the season. After being swept earlier in the season by the Tigers, the Quakers nearly did the same to Princeton save for two losses at positions one and six. The upset at the Howe Cup gave the third-ranked Red and Blue added momentum going into this season.

2. Camille Lanier comeback ruins Trinity’s perfect season

Down, 2-1, in the fourth game and trailing, No. 8 Camille Lanier came back twice in the final two games to eke out a five-set victory and give No. 5 Penn a 4-2 lead over No. 4 Trinity.

“You’re going to have your good and bad days. And today I had to use my fitness and my mental strength to fight it through to the end,” Lanier said after the match.

The upset was completed with Cairo native Haidi Lala’s decisive sweep. 6-3 was the final score.

3. Men’s squash captures first Ivy victory over Brown

Before the third rotation of matches began, the Quakers had clinched their first and only Ivy victory of the season. After losing their first three Ivy matches, Penn traveled to Providence for a battle of two winless Ivy squads. Losses at positions one, four and nine were the only blemishes in No. 12 Penn’s 6-3 victory over the 18th ranked Bears. Then-freshman Tyler Odell’s four-game victory over Tod Holberton made the frosh the first player on the team to earn multiple Ivy victories.

4. Women’s squash starts strong

The women’s team didn’t wait long to make their presence known as an elite team last year. Not only did the team open the season by sweeping their first four opponents, the Quakers didn’t lose a single game. In its wake, the women’s squash team obliterated five top-25 teams heading into the beginning of Ivy play. Williams, Bates, George Washington and Drexel never had a chance against the superior Quakers, who utilized their depth to give some of their older players days off early on in the season.

“I think the scores reflect the sort of history that we have and also the talent level,” coach Jack Wyant said of his team’s early success.

5. Men’s squash gives Navy a beat down

After alternating wins and losses on its four-game road trip to begin the season, men’s squash looked to make a statement in its home opener. After sweeping Navy six out of the last nine years, the Quakers continued their dominance of the No. 16 Midshipmen with a commanding 8-1 victory. With only one loss at the No. 6 position, Penn’s victory pushed the 13th-ranked squad above .500 for the first time this year.

“I feel like it’s a positive experience for us,” Wyant said of his team’s resilience after losses. “This will reinforce in the boys’ minds that what we’re working on in practice is contributing to points on the board and wins overall.”

SEE ALSO

Penn men’s squash choses Tyler Odell as No. 1

Women’s squash is seeking the sophomore surge

Penn women’s squash’s senior trio ready for final Ivy fight

30 Seconds with Penn men’s squash’s Derek Chilvers

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