CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Columbia Lions faced a challenging start to their 2024-25 squash season as both the men’s and women’s teams were bested by the University of Virginia during matches held at the McArthur Squash Center on Saturday afternoon. This loss marks a tough beginning for Columbia’s squash programs as they aim to gain momentum in the upcoming season.
MEN’S RECAP
In an intensely fought encounter, the eighth-ranked Columbia men’s squad was edged out by their sixth-ranked rivals from Virginia with a score of 6-3. The defeat leaves Columbia with an early 0-1 record as they strive to bounce back in their next outing. Standout performances came from Tommy Soltanian, Zach Nam, and Paarth Ambani, who each claimed victories for Columbia. However, the Cavaliers demonstrated depth and skill across the board to secure the overall match win.
#6 Virginia 6, #8 Columbia 3
1 | Karim Elbarbary (VA) def. Arhan Chandra (CU) 11-9, 7-11, 11-3, 12-10
2 | JP Tew (VA) def. Franklyn Smith (CU) 11-4, 11-9, 11-3
3 | Juan Jose Torres (VA) def. Yusuf Sheikh (CU) 11-7, 11-9, 11-8
4 | Thomas Soltanian (CU) def. Maxwell Velazquez (VA) 11-3, 11-7, 11-6
5 | Zach Nam (CU) def. Dylan Moran (VA) 14-12, 8-11, 11-8, 11-9
6 | Paarth Ambani (CU) def. Petr Nohel (VA) 3-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-7
7 | Nathan Rosenzweig (VA) def. Imad Athar (CU) 11-8, 11-13, 11-8, 11-5
8 | Ewan Harris (VA) def. Gonzalo De La Mora (CU) 11-8, 11-1, 11-2
9 | Evan Hajek (VA) def. Adam Goad (CU) 12-10, 11-8, 8-11, 12-14, 11-6
WOMEN’S RECAP
The ninth-ranked Columbia women’s squash team also experienced disappointment, suffering a sweeping 9-0 defeat against the same formidable Virginia Cavaliers. This comprehensive loss leaves Columbia at 0-1 as they seek to regroup and strengthen their performance in future matches. The Cavaliers displayed dominance in every position, winning each encounter by a convincing 3-0 margin.
#6 Virginia 9, #9 Columbia 0
1 | Meagan Best (VA) def. Aleeza Khan (CU) 11-4, 11-2, 11-1
2 | Lina Tammam (VA) def. Amal Izhar (CU) 11-6, 11-1, 11-5
3 | Maria Min (VA) def. Eva Salzman (CU) 11-4, 11-1, 11-3
4 | Maryam Mian (VA) def. Andreea Ghiorghisor (CU) 11-5, 11-6, 11-4
5 | Maureen Foley (VA) def. Sophia Hu (CU) 11-5, 11-6, 11-5
6 | Clare Minnis (VA) def. Eugenia Li (CU) 11-7, 11-9, 11-6
7 | Nina Hashmi (VA) def. Advita Sharma (CU) 11-6, 11-9, 11-6
8 | Claire Pellegrino (VA) def. Renee Chan (CU) 11-4, 11-6, 11-1
9 | Caroline Pellegrino (VA) def. Shaivi Rau (CU) 11-8, 11-0, 11-1
UP NEXT
Looking ahead, Columbia will return to New York where they are set to host Tufts University in their home opener for both the men’s and women’s teams. The matches are scheduled to take place on Friday, November 22, with action commencing at the SL Green Streetsquash Center at 5 p.m.
FOLLOWING THE LIONS
Stay updated with the latest developments on the Columbia squash teams by following them on their official social media accounts on X, Instagram (@CULionsSquash), Facebook (Facebook.com/ColumbiaSquash), or visiting their official athletics website at GoColumbiaLions.com.
How can the team leverage standout performances from individual players to regroup and improve in upcoming matches?
0-1 for the season, highlighting some challenges ahead as they look to regroup for future matches. The match saw significant determination from the Lions, but the Cavaliers capitalized on their home-court advantage and experience to dominate the competition.
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**Interview with Columbia Squash Head Coach, Sarah Thompson**
**Editor:** Coach Thompson, thank you for taking the time to speak with us today. Your teams faced a tough start this season against a strong Virginia squad. What are your main takeaways from the matches?
**Coach Thompson:** Thank you for having me. It was certainly a challenging day for both our men’s and women’s teams. The level of competition was high, and we faced a very skilled Virginia team. My main takeaway is that we need to focus on the positives, like the wins from Tommy, Zach, and Paarth on the men’s side. We can learn from these matches and improve in our next outings.
**Editor:** The men’s team put up a good fight with a score of 6-3, even though that resulted in a loss. Can you discuss the standout performances from that match?
**Coach Thompson:** Absolutely. Tommy Soltanian, Zach Nam, and Paarth Ambani all played exceptionally well. Tommy in particular showed great resilience, coming back from a tough first game. Zach and Paarth also had a mix of strategy and determination that led to their victories. It’s vital to build on these individual successes as we move forward.
**Editor:** On the women’s side, the team faced a sweeping 9-0 defeat. How do you plan to address this setback and motivate the team moving forward?
**Coach Thompson:** That was a tough one for the women. Each player fought hard, but we know where we need to improve. We will be analyzing these matches closely in practice and working on areas like consistency and mental toughness. Keeping morale high is crucial right now; we need to remember that each match is a learning opportunity.
**Editor:** Looking ahead, what are your priorities for the teams as they prepare for their next matches?
**Coach Thompson:** Our immediate priority is to regroup and focus on our training. We need to work on not only our individual skills but also our teamwork and strategy on the court. We have to take this setback as motivation to push harder and come back stronger in our next matches.
**Editor:** Thank you, Coach Thompson, for sharing your insights. We wish the Columbia Lions the best of luck as they continue their season.
**Coach Thompson:** Thank you! We appreciate the support and will keep pushing forward.
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This concludes our interview. Stay tuned for the next match updates as the Columbia Lions aim to reclaim their momentum in the 2024-25 squash season.