Ephs Avenge Loss to Win Kurtz Cup
Princeton, NJ—“Battling back” was the theme of the day Sunday afternoon as Williams’ women’s squash took on Cornell in the B-division finals of the National Championship. In remarkable performances all the way down the lineup, Williams was able to avenge a 5-4 loss to Cornell just a few weeks earlier, earning a 6-3 victory over the Big Red and the Kurtz Cup title.
Stands were packed as the first Ephs went on court, only to become more crowded as the afternoon progressed. Number six Caroline Henry could not get to a quick enough start to stave off her opponent, who took the match 3-0. At the number nine position, Julia Reiser was able to read her opponent’s short game and drive the ball to the backcourt for a 3-1 victory. Meanwhile, number three Jennifer Coxe kept her audience on edge, battling back and forth with Cornell’s Alex Cornett, whose precise boasts and quick feet had proven too much for her Williams’ opponent in their previous match-up. At two games apiece and 5-0 ahead in the fifth game, it looked as if Cornett might upset her Williams opponent again. But with fierce determination and great skill, Coxe fought her way back to a 9-7 victory, putting the Ephs ahead 2-1 in match score.
On court seven, senior Allie Rottkamp played some of the best squash of her short career. Having only started playing her sophomore year of college, Rottkamp, who plays tennis in the fall and spring seasons, used her fine touch and racket skills to win a decisive three-game victory at the number eight position. Next on court, number seven Claire Hsu struggled to close out her match after going up 2-0 in games, as Cornell’s Izzy Spyrou battled back to win 3-2. Similarly on court five, co-captain Ashley Eyre could not continue the momentum from her first game win, losing 3-1 to Cornell’s Jen Gemmell at the number two spot.
In what was perhaps the match of the day, number five Arianna Kourides came back from a 2-0 game deficit and down 2-6 in the third game to win a five game thriller that wore down her opponent, as well as the crowds watching. No stranger to crucial five-game matches, Kourides demonstrated a great perseverance and intensity that put the Ephs up 4-3.
A quick 3-0 win by number one Toby Eyre, who in usual fashion only allowed her opponent three points, secured the Eph’s victory. However, that did not stop co-captain Catie Warner from playing a hard-fought five-game match, ending her collegiate squash career with a victory in the number four position.
At the end of a tough season, where a top eight ranking was within a few points of their reach, Williams has proven to their supporters and opponents that they are a force to be reckoned with. A successful run at Nationals and strong victories throughout the season have shown the Ephs to truly be competitors at the highest level.
The Ephs hope that this momentum will carry over into next weekend, when their top players will compete in the Individuals tournament down at Navy.
Williams def. Cornell 6-3
1. Toby Eyre (W) def.Rachel Wagner (C)9-2 9-1 9-0
2. Jenn Gemmell (C) def. Ashley Eyre(W) 5-9 9-7 9-5 9-2
3. Jennifer Coxe(W) def. Alex Cornett (C)7-9 9-3 9-3 4-9 9-7
4. Catie Warner (W)def. Liza Stokes (C) 3-9 10-9 6-9 9-3 9-6
5. Arianna Kourides (W) def. Annie Ritter(C) 4-9 5-9 9-6 9-6 9-4
6. Mairin Barnes (C) def. Caroline Henry (W) 9-3 10-8 9-2
7. Izzy Spyrou(C) def. Claire Hsu (W) 4-9 6-9 9-4 9-0 9-2
8. Allie Rottkamp (W) def. Jen Chu (C) 9-7 9-2 9-6
9. Julia Reiser (W) def. Alix Watson(C) 9-4 3-9 9-1 9-5
