The team traveled to Exeter Saturday for its penultimate contest. Going up against a team with an unpredictable record and heading out with a somewhat depleted roster, the JV girls were unsure of Saturday’s outcome and knew they had to dig deep to pull off a victory. Up and down the ladder, Exeter was hot on Deerfield’s heels and came close to unsettling the team, but the squad was unwilling to give up their grasp on an undefeated season and pulled out a 5-2 win!
Daly Baker came first with three 11-8 wins in a row, but Olivia Geraci’s opponent squeaked out three wins 11-9, 11-7, 11-9 to tie things up. However, Isabella Geraci, stepping up at #2 for the day, buckled in for four intense games and took home the win (11-7, 10-12, 11-8, 11-9) for another Deerfield point. Cameron Heard grabbed the next victory in four, losing the first 9-11 but coming back for three nice games 11-8, 11-7, 11-7. Helen Mak had an uncharacteristically brief match at #6, winning 11-4, 11-1, 11-6 to clinch Deerfield’s victory for the day. Janis Chen fell at #5, 10-12, 11-8, 8-11, 8-11, but fought valiantly to improve her game over the course of the match.
Caroline Hoff, jumping up to #7 all the way from her usual spot at #12, had a truly fantastic victory: after winning the first game 11-5 but dropping the second 9-11, Hoff was down in the third game with her opponent up at 10 points. However, Hoff refused to concede and demonstrated her characteristic determination to hunt down every shot, no matter the danger, pulling out a 12-10 win that tipped the momentum of the match in her favor. She won the fourth game 11-7 and scored her first career point for Deerfield squash, contributing her efforts to the team’s 5-2 victory!
Overall it was one of Deerfield’s more competitive matches this season and the entire team showed their flexibility, determination, and drive to compete over the course of the day! The girls greatly anticipate their fourteenth and final match of the season away with Choate on Wednesday, which they hope will put the finishing touch on a fantastic and lengthy winter!