PRINCETON, N.J. -- The No. 15 nationally ranked Bates women's squash team opened Kurtz Cup play at the College Squash Association team championships with a tight 6-3 loss to No. 10 Brown University Friday night.
The Bobcats (14-5) got strong play high up the ladder, winning three out of the four matches at the No. 1 through No. 4 positions.
All-NESCAC first team selections Luca Polgar and Kristyna Alexova won at the No. 1 and 2 positions respectively.
Polgar '20 (Budapest, Hungary) defeated Quincy Beck 3-1 (9-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-7) at the No. 1 position to improve her record to 15-4 in her first year as a Bobcat.
Meanwhile, Alexova '19 (Boskovice, Czech Republic), a repeat first team all-NESCAC selection, showed why she deserved that honor with a gritty 3-2 (11-7, 9-11, 11-6, 8-11, 12-10) win over Hannah Seckendorf at the No. 2 position. Alexova improved her personal record to 14-5 on the season.
First-year Eliza Dunham (New Haven, Conn.) joined Polgar and Alexova in the win column with a 3-2 (12-14, 11-9, 8-11, 11-7, 11-8) victory over Isabel Scherl at the No. 4 position. Dunham improved her record to 13-3 on the season.
Bates didn't have as much success further down the ladder, although senior co-captain Charlotte Cabot (Dover, Mass.) gave Scarlett Bergam all she could handle at the No. 6 position, taking the first two games before falling 3-2 (11-3, 5-11, 11-2, 11-5, 11-8).
The Bobcats will take on NESCAC rival and No. 11 nationally ranked Williams in the consolation semifinals Saturday at 5:00 p.m.
No. 10 Brown 6, No. 15 Bates 3
College Squash Association Team Championships Quarterfinals
Feb. 24, 2017 at Princeton, N.J.
1. Luca Polgar (BATES) def. Quincy Beck (BROWN) 9-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-7
2. Kristyna Alexova (BATES) def. Hannah Seckendorf (BROWN) 11-7, 9-11, 11-6, 8-11, 12-10
3. Hannah Hay-Smith (BROWN) def. Vicky Arjoon (BATES) 11-6, 11-5, 7-11, 11-7
4. Eliza Dunham (BATES) def. Isabel Scherl (BROWN) 12-14, 11-9, 8-11, 11-7, 11-8
5. Isabel Young (BROWN) def. Emma Dunn (BATES) 11-6, 11-6, 11-9
6. Scarlett Bergam (BROWN) def. Charlotte Cabot (BATES) 11-13, 5-11, 11-2, 11-5, 11-8
7. Katrina Northrop (BROWN) def. Katie Bull (BATES) 11-0, 11-5, 11-2
8. Purvi Goel (BROWN) def. Molly Brooks (BATES) 11-7, 11-7, 11-7
9. Hannah Safford (BROWN) def. Blair Weintraub (BATES) 11-8, 11-7, 11-7
