The JV girls’ team suffered its first loss in nearly 3 years (since February 2017) on Saturday, but not for lack of heart. Each member played some of, if not her best, squash of all time against a St. Paul’s team with tremendous depth. Though the team was ultimately overmatched and lost 3-4, they can be proud of a tight contest with a talented opponent.
At the even spots, junior Grace Russell had the game of her life! She won 11-9, then her opponent surged with 11-2, 11-6 victories. Grace stayed calm and held on to get another 11-9 win, then used an excellent serve to roll powerfully to an 11-5 victory in the fifth game. Two spots down, senior Janis Chen was unlucky and fell in three tight games (9, 8, 9) to a skilled St. Paul’s player, despite Chen’s best efforts. Junior Camille Glatt had a similar story at the last spot: though she made an excellent effort and nearly clawed her way back in the third game, St. Paul’s ultimately had the day (6, 7, 12).
There was still hope in the odds. From the varsity, Talbot von Stade contributed a Deerfield point in a clean 3-0 win. Senior Christina Li nearly had a comeback: after losing 6-11, she played her most determined, effortful, deliberate squash to win 11-8 and then nearly secure a victory in a 12-14 third game. Her opponent JUST had her the 9-11 loss that followed, but the points represented some of the longest and best play of Li’s squash career. Sophomore Isha Rao, stepping up to her highest spot yet as she continues to climb the ladder, went 11-6, 8-11, 5-11, 11-2 to force a fifth game. The match truly could’ve gone either way, as Rao went on to ultimately drop the fifth game 10-12 but again demonstrated true commitment and focus in her match. Senior Helen Mak gave Deerfield its third and ultimately final point of the day in an excellent 5-game match: she warmed up with a 5-11 loss, then came back with an 11-6, 11-2 pair of wins, stumbled a bit on a 9-11 loss, then finally achieved dominance in an 11-3 fifth game.
The team remains determined to achieve victory this year and looks to redeem Saturday’s disappointments with a Wednesday contest against Williston and a host of February opponents.