CANTON, N.Y.-The William Smith College squash competed at the 2019 Liberty League Squash Championship at St. Lawrence University this weekend, finishing with a 2-1 record. The Herons defeated Bard and Vassar to improve to 6-8 overall this season.
 
William Smith opened the tournament on Saturday knocking off Bard 9-0 and Vassar 8-1. St. Lawrence defeated the Raptors and Brewers 9-0 on Saturday, setting up a championship match. The Saints emerged with an 8-1 win to claim their second consecutive conference crown.
 
Senior Michaelann Denton led the way for the Herons, posing a perfect 3-0 record in the No. 3 spot.
 
In the first match of the weekend, William Smith was matched up against Bard. The Herons won all nine matches in three games. Junior Maddie Saiontz clinched the overall victory for the Herons, cruising to an 11-3, 11-0, 11-3 win in the No. 8 spot. Junior Gabby Fraser won 11-1, 11-1, 11-2 in the No. 1 spot. Senior Madison Bradley won 11-4, 11-3, 11-6 at No. 2 and Denton knocked off her Raptor opponent 11-3, 11-1, 11- at No. 3. First-year Molly Wachter topped her opposition 11-4, 11-4, 11-1 at No. 4. In the fifth spot, senior Stacy Avigail Maceda notched an 11-1, 11-2, 11-4 victory. First-year Hattye Hytla won 11-2, 11-0, 11-5 at No. 6 and first-year Lillian Molinari lost just two games as she won 11-0, 11-1, 11-1.  First-year Gretchen Vietor logged an 11-5, 11-8, 12-10 at No. 9.
 
In Saturday afternoon's match against Vassar, William Smith picked up 3-0 wins in five matches. Fraser notched an 11-2, 11-1, 11-1 victory in the No. 1 spot. Bradley rallied to claim a win at No. 2, besting her opponent 8-11, 11-3, 12-10, 9-11, 11-3. After dropping the first game, Denton went on to win 9-11, 11-9, 11-4, 11-4 in the No. 3 spot. Wachter claimed an 11-6, 11-9, 9-11, 11-1 victory in the No. 4 spot. Avigail Maceda and Hytla swept their opponents at No. 5 and No. 6, respectively. Sanoitz's 11-5, 11-4, 11-6 victory in the No. 8 spot clinched the overall victory for William Smith.
 
In today's championship match against St. Lawrence, Denton improved to 7-3 on the season with an 11-4, 11-4, 11-6 win at the No. 3 spot. The Saints won 3-0 in five matches. Fraser put up a strong fight in the No. 1 spot for the Herons but was edged 11-8, 8-11, 11-8, 11-5.
 
William Smith will be back in action next Saturday, Feb. 9, when it hosts the William Smith Round Robin. The Herons will take on Rochester at 10 a.m. and Colgate at 1 p.m.