#14 Herons outlast Red Devils 5-4

The 14th-ranked William Smith squash team defeated Dickinson 5-4 in a quarterfinal match in the Kurtz Cup at the College Squash Association Team Championships this afternoon. With the win, the Herons advance to the semifinals where they will take on Georgetown tomorrow at 12:30 p.m.

FOR THE RECORD
William Smith is now 12-3 on the season.
Dickinson falls to 6-11.

MATCH SUMMARY

• William Smith, which was the second seed, had three 3-1 victories in the match. They had a 3-0 sweep and a 3-2 win as well.
• The Red Devils, who are the seventh seed, won 3-2 in the top two spots of the lineup.
• Junior Anna O’Connor gave the Herons a 1-0 lead, sweeping Whitney Finney, 11-4, 15-13, 11-7 at No. 4. It was O’Connor’s 10th win of the season. She is 9-2 at No. 4.
• Sophomore Jess Finnerty gave the Herons a 2-0 lead in the match when she beat Elissa Goldman, 11-5, 11-6, 9-11, 11-5 at No. 8. It was Finnerty’s 10th win of the season and fifth in a row.
• Dickinson drew level with wins at No. 1 and No. 9. At the top of the ladder, senior Rafaela Albuja Sanchezwas edged 8-11, 7-11, 13-11, 11-6, 11-7.
• Junior Shante Frank snuck out a 3-2 win over Victoria Savelius at No. 6. Frank won 6-11, 11-7, 11-4, 6-11, 11-9. It was Frank’ ninth win of the season and second in the No. 6 spot.
• After the Red Devils tied the match with a win in the No. 2 spot, senior Lark Ervasti gave Wiliam Smith a 4-3 lead when she beat Cate Moll, 11-7, 10-12 13-11, 11-2.  Ervasti is 9-3 on the season.
• Sophomore Nathalie Sim clinched the overall victory in the No. 3 spot. She bat Kathryn Herring, 6-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-7. Sim is 11-2 on the season, playing all 13 matches at No. 3.

UP NEXT

The Herons will take on No. 3 seed Georgetown tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. The Hoyas beat Bowdoin 9-0 to advance to the semifinals. William Smith and Georgetown met in January with the Herons winning 5-4.