The upcoming weekend of college squash will feature several early-season matches with important rankings implications.
The University of Pennsylvania faces two important home tests from in-state opponents. The Quaker women’s and men’s teams will take on Franklin & Marshall on Saturday, November 11, and Drexel on Sunday, November 12. In what is referred to as the “Battle for Chestnut Street” on Sunday, Drexel and Penn will contest the first matchups of the season between top-10 ranked teams.
The Penn women—2017 national finalists and the current No. 2-ranked team, will aim to hold off the No. 9-ranked Drexel women. The Dragons will feature freshman Mariam Kamal—a former junior and senior Team USA member—in her first major college match. On the men’s side, the No. 5-ranked Quakers—also featuring a new freshman star, two-time national junior champion Andrew Douglas—play No. 7 Drexel. Last season, the Dragons squeaked out a 5-4 win that saw all top four matches go to five games.
In other play, six men’s teams will participate in round robin play at Bard College. Bard will face Vassar College for Hudson Valley bragging rights on Saturday. A five-team women’s round robin will be hosted by Colgate, highlighted by a Saturday fixture between No. 20 William Smith and No. 29 Vassar.
The Fordham men’s team, ranked No. 33, have opened the season with four straight wins under new head coach Sahel Anwar. They will travel to Annapolis to face four more opponents this weekend, including No. 31 Haverford and No. 14 Navy.
