Bates junior Nessrine Ariffin (Penang, Malaysia) was at the forefront of the Bobcat women's squash team's finest venture yet in the seven-year history of the NESCAC Squash Championship.Â
The Bobcats received a first-round bye thanks to their No. 2 seeding, setting up a quarterfinal showdown with rival Bowdoin on Saturday morning. Bates prevailed 7-2, with Ariffin putting away the Polar Bears' No. 1 player, Rachel Barnes, in straight sets (11-3, 11-9, 11-9). Bates advanced to play archrival Williams in the semifinals, and routed the Ephs 7-2 after beating them by a 5-4 margin on Jan. 11 in Lewiston. At the top of the ladder, Ariffin defeated Williams' Alyssa Northrop 3-0 (11-4, 11-2, 11-8).
Ariffin also played a very competitive match against one of the top players in the country, Trinity's Cata Pelaez, falling 3-1 (10-12, 11-9, 11-8, 11-7) in the Bobcats' 9-0 loss in the conference championship match.
The one-time All-American sports Bates' best individual record, at 9-3, while facing opponents' aces in each outing. She will take her game to the Division III Individual Championships this weekend at Bowdoin.
