POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – The Bard College women's squash team defeated Vassar in a tightly competitive match, 5-4, for their season opener on Saturday morning. The Raptors then faced Northeastern in the afternoon, but sadly fell 9-0. 

Bard got the default win in ladders 8 and 9, giving the Raptors a 2-0 lead. Vassar's first four ladders won in straight games, but Snow Queen and Hanna Okalava both fought hard, with both of them winning at least six points in each game. 

Captains Tee Williams and Nioby Rodriguez both won their games, with Rodriguez winning in four games, while Williams won comfortably in straight games. With the match tied up at 4-4, the tiebreaker came down to first-year Essa Kyaw at ladder 6. Kyaw started strong, winning the first game 11-4. The second game got a little closer with the Brewers' #6 fighting back, but Kyaw stayed composed and won the second game 11-7. In the third game, Kyaw was on a roll and used a mixed variation of shots and strokes to win 11-2. 

Bard 5, Vassar 4
1. Charlotte Tobin def. Tarana Downer: 11-3, 11-3, 11-1
2. Hope Fireison def. Catherine Chapel: 11-2, 11-2, 11-3
3. Adriana Ordaya def. Hanna Okalava: 11-8, 11-6, 11-9 
4. Lexi Donshik def. Snow Queen: 11-6, 11-7, 11-6
5. Nioby Rodriguez def. Iesha DeSilva, 11-2, 8-11, 11-5, 11-9 
6. Essa Kyaw def. Ariadni Markantonaki Kouletaki: 11-4, 11-7, 11-2
7. Tee Williams def. Elta Bajrami, 11-2, 11-7, 11-5
8 & 9 default win for Bard 

In the match against Northeastern, the Raptors had to move up two ladders from their previous match. Bard battled hard and put up a good fight against a strong Huskies team. Rodriguez nearly won her second game but fell 10-12. Catalyna Contreras-Araya and Minshi Yang played their first collegiate match and scored points in two of the three games they played. 

Bard will be back on November 8th when they host the Bard Round Robin. 

Northeastern 9, Bard 0
1. Riya Ananthanpillai def. Tarana Downer: 11-1, 11-0, 11-1
2. Cassidy King def. Catherine Chapel: 11-6, 11-4, 11-3
3. Sanah Menon def. Nioby Rodriguez: 11-6, 12-10, 11-4
4. Karina Peak def. Essa Kyaw: 11-5, 11-5, 11-3
5. Anushka Anand def. Tee Williams:11-2, 11-6, 11-3
6. Jarene Rodriguez def. Nahla Nazari: 11-2, 11-2, 11-5
7. Charlotte Devereux def. Catalyna Contreras-Araya: 11-3, 11-0, 11-4
8. Tanya Bafna def. Minshi Yang: 11-2, 11-2, 11-0 
9 def win to Northeastern