BOSTON, Mass.—The 22nd-ranked William Smith College squash team opened the 2022 College Squash Association Team Championships with a 5-4 win over 19th-ranked Middlebury at Harvard's Murr Center Squash courts.
 
The Herons, who are the sixth seed in the draw, are now 12-4 on the season and will face Hamilton tomorrow at 10 a.m. in the semifinal round. The Panthers, who are the third seed, are 4-9 overall and will face Stanford in the consolation draw.
 
"This was a statement win for the William Smith squash program against a very good Middlebury team," Head Coach Pat Cosquer said. "It was a total team effort and our energy and effort was perfect today. We're looking forward to playing Hamilton again in the semifinal tomorrow."
 
Three of William Smith's five points came via 3-0 wins. The Herons' other two victories came in four games. Lark Ervasti extended her winning streak to five games with a win in the No. 4 spot of the lineup. She defeated Eva Finney, 11-7, 11-5, 11-2. Ervasti is now 11-1 on the season, including a 4-0 mark in the No. 4 spot. Jada Smith-Padmore bested Grace Santoro, 11-4, 11-8, 11-5. Smith-Padmore is now 9-5 on the year, including a 4-0 record in the No. 6 spot. Jo Pacheco also posted a 3-0 victory in the No. 7 spot. She beat Kieran Suntha 11-4, 11-9, 15-13 for her team-leading 13th win of the season.
 
In the No. 2 spot, Laila Selim rallied to defeat Ideal Dowling, 10-12, 13-11, 11-5, 11-9. With the victory, Selim is now 11-5 on the year, with a 9-2 record in the second spot of the lineup. Marce Marquez Martinez clinched the overall victory for William Smith with her win in the No. 1 spot. Marquez Martinez defeated Gwen Davis, 9-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-4. Marquez Martinez is now 10-5 on the season.
 
In the closest match of the day, Middlebury's Evan Weiss edged Erin Griffis, 10-12, 9-11, 11-1, 11-7, 11-2. The Panthers had 3-0 wins in the No. 3 and No. 8 spots.