CAMBRIDGE, MA - The Bard College men's squash team lost in the opening round of the College Squash Association National Team Championships Friday afternoon, falling to Bucknell University, 7-2.
The Raptors (10-10) were competing in the
Chaffee Cup (E Division) as the no. 8 seed, against the top seed in the bracket, Bucknell, thanks to the highest ranking in Bard history at no. 40 overall in the latest rankings.
The Raptors secured their two victories from No. 1,
Rhys Nordstrom and No. 3,
Julian Dime.
Nordstrom was able to sweep his opponent in straight sets, while Dime rallied from a 2-1 set deficit to win in five.
Bard also received great efforts in losses from,
Vikramaditya Joshi,
Ayateru Maeda and
Abe Etkin on the day.
Joshi and Madea both rallied from 2-1 set deficits to push their matches to a fifth and deciding set. However, both rallies fizzled in the end, allowing Bucknell to secure those victories.
Etkin, meanwhile, fell in four sets during his match, but pushed his competition the entire time.
While the
final result might have been the same as when these two teams meet back in January, the effort and competition between the two was much closer this time around.
It's just another sign of the progress Bard continues to make.
The Raptors' defeat doesn't end the season for the team either, as they now will move into the consolation bracket of the Chaffee Cup and play Denison University in the semifinals.
If Bard wins that match, which will be played on February 18th, then the Raptors would move in the consolation final.
That would give the team a chance to break its win record of 11 wins, that was set just last year.
Bucknell 7, Bard 2
1. Nordstrom (BC) def. Henry Charman 12-10, 11-3, 11-4
2. Henry Kelly (BU) def. Maeda 11-9, 5-11, 11-4, 7-11, 11-5
3. Dime (BC) def. Nick Derosier 2-11, 12-10, 9-11, 11-6, 11-2
4. Charles Greenwood (BU) def. Etkin 6-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-6
5. Jack Buendia (BU) def. Joshi 12-10, 11-13, 11-6, 8-11, 11-6
6. Spencer Smith (BU) def.
Aman Kurien 11-5, 11-5, 11-3
7. Matt Myers (BU) def.
Satwik Srikrishnan 11-2, 11-2, 11-8
8. Sam Klaber (BU) def.
Theo Webb 11-2, 11-2, 11-8
9. Bryan Yekelchik (BU) def.
Artun Ak 11-7, 11-4, 11-5
