Siebert wins Constable Cup, Riley takes B flight

On Saturday, the women's squash team's sophomore Amanda Siebert won the highly prestigious Constable Cup at Jadwin's featured court no. 1. Siebert, a second-team All-American selection last year, defeated first-team All-American Tehani Guruge of Trinity in four games.

Winning 9-6, 5-9, 9-3, 10-8, Siebert appeared to focus her attack on Guruge's backhand, hitting powerful rails, though she also placed high lobs into the corners to make Guruge run. Yet most of her winners were short finesse shots that fell stone dead in front of the tin. Capitalized by long rallies, it was an all-round display of superior squash. Siebert also dispatched two other Trinity players en route to the finals. This year's field at the Constable Cup was a preview of the competition Princeton will face in its showdown against Trinity, scheduled for February 17, yet much can change in a month.

So the Tigers, like Seibert, must stay in top form.

"Amanda had an amazing weekend of squash. She had an endless supply of energy and wore her opponents into the ground. In her final match, she hit rail after tight rail and didn't give Tehani an inch to work with," senior tri-captain Carly Grabowski, who is also a Daily Princetonian Staff writer, said.

Though Siebert's victory was clearly the highlight of the match, senior tri-captain Casey Riley won the B flight, defeating junior Joanna Scoon in an all-Princeton final. Coming back from yet another injury, Casey Riley showed that she still has the talent that made her one of Princeton's most prized recruits three years ago.

"It was great to get back on court this weekend and play. It really helped build up the confidence I need to play the rest of this season," Riley said.

Perhaps the second most important match occurred in the second round, as sophomore Emery Maine upset No. 2 seed Lauren Polonich of Trinity in the minimum three games, 9-6, 9-5, 9-2. Maine, a first-year player for the Tigers, gained momentum in every game against the three-time first-team All-American selection. Unfortunately for the Tigers, the luck of the draw had Emery Maine lined up to play Siebert in the next round.

"We all knew how good Emery was, but we didn't expect the performance she gave this weekend. Emery plays a hard-hitting game and keeps her opponent on the move by mixing in hard rails with well-timed short shots," tri-captain Grabowski said.

The rest of the team dominated in the consolation rounds. Also in the A draw, Grabowski and senior tri-captain Margaret Kent both reached the final of the consolation round. The No. 1-ranked Tigers should feel confident about their chances against Ivy League rival Penn on Jan. 30.