Squash Downs Colgate, 7-2

SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (Jan. 25, 2008) - Regrouping from just its second loss of the season on Tuesday, the Mount Holyoke College women's squash team picked up a 7-2 victory over Colgate University this afternoon at the Kendall Sports and Dance Complex. The contest served as the opener for the 2008 Mount Holyoke/Smith College Invitational.

A total of 12 squads from around the region will participate in the tournament, which runs through Sunday. In addition to Colgate and Mount Holyoke, Northeastern University, Tufts University, Colby College, Hamilton College, Wesleyan University and Wellesley College will compete at the Mount Holyoke site.

Mount Holyoke cruised through its first contest of the weekend, winning seven of the eight completed matches. The Lyons top five players combined to drop just four points. They each won their matches 3-0. From top to bottom, the group included junior Pamela Anckermann (Guatemala City, Guatemala/Monte Alto), first year Vidushi Gurunada (Colombo, Sri Lanka/Lyceum Int'l School), junior Menusha Hettiarachchi (Colombo, Sri Lanka/Holy Family Convent), sophomore Laurian Lue Yen (Kingston, Jamaica/St. Paul's (N.H.)) and senior Elizabeth Wright (Lexington, Mass./Phillips Exeter).

Also earning wins for Mount Holyoke were senior Pia Seth (Bombay India/Cathedral & John Connon) and sophomore Hillela Simpson (Seattle, Wash./Seattle Academy). Seth won her number six match 3-1, while Simpson took the number seven tilt 3-0.

Colgate's lone victory came from its number eight player, sophomore Courtney Sweeney, who downed senior Anushka Fernando (Colombia, Sri Lanka) 3-0. The Raiders also received a point by default from the number nine slot.

Mount Holyoke (8-2) will take the courts for two more matches tomorrow as round robin play continues. The Lyons will face off against Colby at 11:00 a.m. and Hamilton at 3:30 p.m. Three other contests will also take place at Mount Holyoke on day two of the tournament.

Mount Holyoke def. Colgate, 7-2
1. Pamela Anckermann (MHC) def. Paige Bayless (COL), 3-0 (9-0, 9-0, 9-0)
2. Vidushi Gurunada (MHC) def. Jenny Dorland (COL), 3-0 (9-1, 9-0, 9-0)
3. Menusha Hettiarachchi (MHC) def. Nicole la Hausse (COL), 3-0 (9-0, 9-0, 9-0)
4. Laurian Lue Yen (MHC) def. Annie Morrison (COL), 3-0 (9-0, 9-0, 9-1)
5. Elizabeth Wright (MHC) def. Hannah Ruddock (COL), 3-0 (9-0, 9-1, 9-1)
6. Pia Seth (MHC) def. Laura Denenga (COL), 3-1 (9-2, 9-4, 1-9, 9-2)
7. Hillela Simpson (MHC) def. Lizzie Ellis (COL), 3-0 (9-3, 9-2, 9-2)
8. Courtney Sweeney (COL) def. Anushka Fernando (MHC), 3-0 (9-3, 9-6, 9-6)
9. Colgate wins by default