The Drexel University men’s squash team went 2-0 this weekend against Yale University and Dartmouth University at home at the Kline & Specter Squash Center.
The Dragons defeated the Bulldogs 5-4 on Jan. 27, which happened to be Drexel’s first win over Yale in program history.
The Dragons secured victories in the top four spots and the sixth spot.
Sophomore Omar El Atmas swept his opponent in three games in the first spot. Sophomore Bransten Ming followed with a win in a five-game battle. Freshman Lucas Rousselet and senior Michael Thompson finished off their opponents in three games.
Junior Luke Willemse got the fifth win for Drexel on the night with a great effort in five games, making it nine straight wins for the junior.
The men continued their winning streak Jan. 29 by picking up their tenth consecutive victory this season with a win over Dartmouth . With this win, the Dragons improved to a 10-4 record on the season.
El Atmas, Ming, Rousselet and Thompson all started off the match right with victories in the first, second, third and fourth spots, respectively. El Atmas defeated his Big Green opponent in five games. Ming fought through five games as well to come out with a win. Rousselet and Thompson followed with wins in four games.
Willemse and freshman Mostafa Aboul Makarim helped finish off the day for Drexel with two more victories. Willemse swept his opponent in the sixth position, while Makarim won in four games.
Head coach John White thinks that sticking to the basics has been key to the team.
“Just having the guys work on the basics of the game. This has proven wonders for their games and wins. Another area is recovery and getting those with niggling injuries into the trainers for treatment every day to get their bodies fully rested. Last few weeks have been taking its toll both on the court with hard matches with a lot of traveling. Princeton is the toughest match of the three left. They have come close to beating some of the other top teams. They are hungry for a win as they are so close to being back in the top 8. It will be another good match for the guys.”
The Drexel women’s squash team suffered losses to Yale and Dartmouth at home this past weekend.
To start the weekend off, the Bulldogs beat the Dragons 9-0 . The Drexel women were defeated in every spot Jan. 27. Freshman Anna Hughes was the only Dragon to win a game.
Two days later, the Dragons fell to the Big Green in a close match,5-4.
Juniors Hayley Hughes and Anna Hughes, senior Mary Fung-A-Fat, and sophomore Fiona Power all secured wins for Drexel. Hayley Hughes swept her opponent in straight sets in the second spot. Fung-A-Fat also executed a sweep in the fourth spot. Anna Hughes and Power won in four games in the third and fifth spots respectively.
“We are having the girls stay positive and also work on the basics of the game for the next three weeks. This second half of the season has been tough for them playing the top teams and seeing their ranking drop out of the top 10. The 4-5 loss against No. 9 Dartmouth was a good confidence boost for them. George Washington will be another close and winnable match. They now realize that they still have a very good chance to finish in the top 10 at the Nationals. Being positive, training hard and staying focused is the goal for each session till the end of the season,” said Coach White.
The Dragons will return to action Feb. 8 against Princeton University and then in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 10, when they face George Washington University.