PHILADELPHIA, PA— The #14 Amherst College men's squash team dropped a hard-fought 6–3 decision to #15 Colby in the Hoehn Cup semifinals on Saturday, moving to 12–7 on the season while competing in the 2nd division of the CSA men's national team tournament for teams ranked 13–20. The matchup marked the third meeting between the Mammoths and Mules this year, with Colby taking all three contests despite another resilient effort from Amherst across the ladder. In a close semifinal, five of the nine matches went to five games, but Amherst managed to convert only one of thoseto their advantage. Colby's ability to pull out tight finishes in the top and middle of the order proved decisive, even as the Mammoths swept positions 7–9.
HIGHLIGHTS
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At #7 singles, Grady Herbert produced a composed 3–1 win over Sebastian Campos, 11–6, 12–10, 9–11, 11–2, closing the match in 40 minutes with a dominant fourth game.
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At #8, Aiden Shap came through another marathon, outlasting Avery Rosenberg 3–2 (9–11, 11–8, 15–13, 5–11, 11–4) in 56 minutes, sealing the fifth with confident playing.
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At #9, William Okurowski delivered Amherst's quickest victory of the day, sweeping Oliver Riordan 3–0 (11–4, 11–4, 11–3) in just 23 minutes.
RESULTS (6–3, L):
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Seif Ashraf (C) def. Roman Parisi (A), 3–2 (11–4, 11–7, 4–11, 2–11, 11–3)
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Carlos Zendejas (C) def. Devon Osborne (A), 3–2 (4–11, 11–6, 14–12, 5–11, 11–6)
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Hamza Wessam (C) def. Joseph Toth (A), 3–0 (11–5, 11–6, 11–9)
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Youssif Mostafa (C) def. Graeme Herbert (A), 3–2 (11–8, 6–11, 11–8, 9–11, 11–2)
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Omar Bastawy (C) def. Zi Tao Yu (A), 3–1 (12–10, 11–3, 8–11, 11–8)
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Tymofii Radionov (C) def. Fares Khairy (A), 3–2 (11–8, 11–8, 10–12, 3–11, 11–9)
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Grady Herbert (A) def. Sebastian Campos (C), 3–1 (11–6, 12–10, 9–11, 11–2)
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Aiden Shap (A) def. Avery Rosenberg (C), 3–2 (11–9, 8–11, 15–13, 11–5, 11–4)
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William Okurowski (A) def. Oliver Riordan (C), 3–0 (11–4, 11–4, 11–3)
UP NEXT:
Amherst will play for third place in the Hoehn Cup against #16 Navy, the bracket's fourth seed, at noon on March 1 at the Arlen Specter US Squash Center in Philadelphia. The Mammoths edged the Midshipmen 5–4 earlier in the season and will look to close their national tournament run with another statement win over a top-20 opponent.
