Tigers topple nation's best

Having just emerged from the rigors of final exam week, the women's squash team faced three more tests over Intersession break. The Tigers (6-0 overall, 4-0 Ivy League) — who entered the week ranked No. 5 in the country despite their undefeated record — defeated the top three teams in the country in a six-day stretch.

The No. 2 men's team (6-0, 4-0) also preserved a spotless record, taking two more giant steps toward the Ivy League title this week by defeating rivals Penn and Yale in two very different matches. The pair of wins improves the team's unbeaten streak to six and gives the Tigers the opportunity to play for the league title on their home courts this weekend.

No feat, however, could match the women's squad's series of upset victories, which will likely vault Princeton to the top of the national rankings for the first time this decade.

Like their counterparts on the men's side, the Princeton women will be playing for a national championship this weekend against Dartmouth and Harvard.

"We are all very encouraged by our play this week and very excited about our opportunity this weekend," senior tri-captain Claire Rein-Weston said. "Our morale and confidence are high right now, but we need to maintain focus and prepare well this week in practice."

Rein-Weston led an experienced Tiger lineup, which features four seniors and two juniors, into a showdown with No. 3 Trinity (9-1) at home last Monday. The women quelled any concerns of post-exam fatigue with an early intensity that earned them wins in three of the first four matches.

While the Bantams surged back with victories in the top three positions, Princeton countered with strong play by the veterans in the middle of the lineup. Led by senior Gen Lessard, who rallied from a 2-1 deficit to claim a victory at the No. 4 position, the Tigers emerged with a 6-3 victory.

"That was a big win for us," head coach Gail Ramsay said of Lessard's match. "For her to come back from injury and win her first match of the year like that was important, both for the team's success and Gen's confidence."

Princeton played host to No. 1 Penn (6-1, 3-1) two nights later in a match critical to the race for the Ivy League championship. But rather than veteran leadership, the headline on this occasion was the tenacious play of the freshman class.

Freshman No. 2 Neha Kumar overcame a 2-1 deficit, winning 18 of the final 25 points to defeat her Quaker freshman foe, Sydney Scott. Classmate Amanda Seibert followed suit in the No. 3 slot, earning a hard-fought, five-game victory over Penn's Paula Pearson. At No. 9, Kaitlin Sennatt used the momentum built from a close first-game victory to roll, 3-0.

"All three of our freshmen played incredible matches," Ramsay said. "Neha and Amanda both played very solid fifth games in what were physically draining matches. The experience they gained in these matches will be invaluable."

On Saturday, Princeton completed its perfect week with a 6-3 victory over No. 2 Yale (9-3, 2-2) — the defending national champion — before a hostile crowd of Bulldog faithful. The Tigers were again anchored by the freshman class, who recorded a 3-0 record on the day, completing a 7-2 performance on the week.

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No. 2 Kumar saved her best for last, recovering from her marathon match against Penn to claim another five-gamer. Her 9-2 victory in the fifth game was the most decisive of the match. Also impressive were senior No. 5 Ali Pearson and junior No. 6 Casey Riley, both of whom completed undefeated weeks with their wins.

On the men's side, a well-prepared Princeton squad simply outclassed No. 4 Penn (7-2, 3-1) last Wednesday at Jadwin Gymnasium. The resurgent Quakers announced their entrance as title contenders with a victory over Yale earlier this year, but the Tigers used their tremendous energy and the home-court advantage to claim 27 of 29 games and close the match with a clean sweep.

"We were ready for Penn," senior Preston Comey said. "We knew how talented they are this year, and everyone came out sharp and on top of their games. It's great to see how strong we can be when everyone is prepared to play."

Leading the Tiger onslaught were sophomore standouts No. 1 Mauricio Sanchez, No. 2 Hesham El Halaby and No. 3 Kimlee Wong. All three recorded decisive, shutout victories over their talented counterparts.

Further down the ladder, freshman David Canner and junior tri-captain Tom McKay saw a little more competition, but each pulled out wins despite tough single-game losses in the middle of the match.

Two days later, Princeton rode a tremendous wave of confidence into New Haven, Conn., seeking to avenge a heartbreaking regular-season loss to the Bulldogs at home a year ago. The young Tigers were greeted at Yale's Payne Whitney Gymnasium by a raucous Bulldog crowd that tested their patience and resolve all afternoon.

The match started ominously for Princeton, as the team quickly fell behind in two of the first three matches and seemed to be missing the same intensity it had displayed against Penn. Led by the resiliency of Canner and McKay, however, the Tigers turned the momentum of the match, claiming the first three victories and temporarily quieting the gallery.

"Those two wins were huge for us," Comey said. "Canner played a very strong match in a hostile road environment — very impressive for a freshman. His comeback inspired the rest of the team."

Sanchez, Wong and junior No. 4 Vincent Yu played the strongest matches of the evening, each recording convincing shutout victories. Yu's victory in the final wave of matches sealed the victory for Princeton.

Both the men's and women's teams play host to Dartmouth this Saturday and Harvard on Sunday, with matches set to start at noon each day.

With a win against the Big Green, the men will be playing the Crimson on Sunday for the Ivy League Championship. If the women take down Dartmouth, they will play Harvard for the dual-match national championship.