On Saturday, November 23, the #18-ranked Colby College men’s squash team made a statement in their season opener, edging out the #16 Naval Academy 5-4 in an electrifying match that kept spectators on the edge of their seats.
The match opened with Navy asserting their dominance through the middle and bottom of the ladder, showcasing their depth. Hudson Poirier and Tighe Mullarkey, playing in the #9 and #6 positions respectively, delivered swift and commanding victories in straight games, giving the Midshipmen an early lead. Colby’s Carlos Zendejas responded in a marathon five-game battle at #3, outlasting Alexander Orr and clinching a 12-10 win in the deciding game to put the Mules on the board with their first point.
Navy, however, was quick to regain momentum. Ramsay Killinger and Michael Tierney Jr. secured convincing three-game wins at the #7 and #8 positions, extending Navy’s lead to 4-1. With just four matches remaining, Colby faced an uphill battle, needing to sweep the remaining contests to pull off the upset.
The tide began to turn with the #4 position, where Colby’s Timofey Radionov outlasted his opponent in the longest match of the day, a grueling five-game marathon that showcased grit and stamina. Energized by Radionov’s victory, Colby’s #2, Seif Ashraf, delivered another crucial point with a clutch performance, narrowing Navy’s lead to 4-3.
As tension mounted, Colby’s #1 player, Inwoo Lee, displayed exceptional skill and composure, delivering a dominant three-game performance to tie the match at 4-4. All eyes then turned to the decisive #5 match between Colby’s Syed Haseeb Kashef and Navy’s Lucas Spiro. In a tightly contested showdown, the players traded games in a back-and-forth duel. Kashef ultimately found an extra gear in the deciding fifth game, clinching the match and securing a come-from-behind team victory for Colby.
Colby Head Coach Chris Abplanalp expressed pride in his team’s performance. “Navy is a much improved team. We knew going into the match that we were going to have our hands full. The fact that it was our first match of the season and the CSA Match of the Week only added to the pressure. I was proud of the way our guys competed. They have been training hard and it paid off against Navy. Winning all 3 of the 5-game matches says a lot about the toughness of this team.”
This victory marks an excellent start to the season for Colby, demonstrating their ability to deliver under pressure. This area of the rankings including Navy, Colby, and MIT remains incredibly tight, with each team trading narrow 5-4 results against one another. As the season progresses, these closely contested matches will play a pivotal role in shaping the rankings and the postseason outlook. For Colby, this win provides momentum as they build on their early success, while Navy will look to regroup and refocus as they prepare for the some more tough matches in early January.
