Northampton, MA — Snowy weather didn’t keep 23 teams from 13 schools from competing in the annual Pioneer Valley Invitational. The event, which is hosted by Amherst, Mount Holyoke, and Smith, saw competitive matches between closely ranked teams.

Recognizing the photographs taken at Smith should be easy: they are the ones on the “Pioneer blue” courts. Smith completed some facility upgrades during the winter break, the most dramatic of which were the eye-catching paint jobs on courts one and five.

Some of the top players on the participating teams will be back to the Pioneer Valley in early March when Amherst hosts the Individual Championships.

Click on the thumbnails to view a larger version of each photo. For additional photos from the 2012 Pioneer Valley Invitational, please visit mtbello.com.

2012 Pioneer Valley Invitational: Caroline Nightingale (Haverford) and Clair Oblamski (Smith)

2012 Pioneer Valley Invitational: Corey Kabot (Hobart) and Alex Spiliotes (Haverford)

2012 Pioneer Valley Invitational: Haley Vasquez (Wellesley) and Lena Rice (Amherst)

2012 Pioneer Valley Invitational: Arielle Lehman (Amherst) and Emma Haley (Wellesley)

2012 Pioneer Valley Invitational: Kate Pistel (Colby) and Elisabeth Pei (Vassar)

2012 Pioneer Valley Invitational: Lauren Nelson (Wesleyan) and Hillary Gray (Hamilton)

2012 Pioneer Valley Invitational: Hamilton’s Amanda Thorman and Hillary Gray

2012 Pioneer Valley Invitational: Gordon Silverman (Tufts) and Peter Gabranski (Colby)

2012 Pioneer Valley Invitational: John Eder (Colby) and Andrew Meleney (Tufts)

2012 Pioneer Valley Invitational: Roxanna Mead (Franklin & Marshall) and Mercedes Barba (Tufts)