Hopkins steps it up against Suffield.

Hopkins’ girls squash met Suffield’s JV team at New Haven Lawn Club on Saturday 21 February.  Although Suffield triumphed 4-3 again, the match was considerably tighter than the last tilt between the teams, and several Hopkins swatters had their best outings of the year.

Number two Julia Wang opened play with conscientious play, as she worked hard to control the T by playing deep, only to lose in three solid games.  On the next court, number four Karen Xiao was besting her Suffieldian by hitting hard and applying steady pressure in the back corners in some of Karen’s finest play of the year.  Sarah Scolnic, playing number six, lost to a talented Suffield Pooja Kathari, though Sarah strove to set pace and rhythm on the court.

The second round of matches included Jessica Cohen’s four-game battle with her power-hitting opponent.  Jessica played a wily game but succumbed to the Suffield drives.  On courts one and two, sophomore Meg Crampton at number three was dispatching of her opponent with a command and cool that bodes well for Hopkins’ squash, while sophomore Shelby Galvin brought consistency and authority to her match, winning in five intense games that marked a high point in Shelby’s year.

The match tied at three apiece, the number ones strode onto court one.  Hopkins’ Alana Friedlander brought intensity and a general’s planning to the court, but Pixie Clauson’s nimble feet and quick kills from the T decided the day.

The day’s JV matches saw Alice Bradley play her strategic, thoughtful game but lose in the final 12-10, while Helen Xu drove hard, placed smartly, and went the full hand of games only to lose at the final spin of fate.  Helen’s fine play signaled her arrival as a potent member of Hopkins’ deepening ladder, a message further sent in the next match: Hannah Elbaum used her impressive power and gutsy play to work Carly Smith hard, but did lose in the end to Smith’s superior shot placement. 

The final round of play pitted Clara Wilson-Hawken against Shinelle Baker, hot off the court from the Bradley match.  Baker’s impressive speed and athleticism proved challenging but insufficient to Wilson-Hawken’s control of the ball, court, and games.  That superb paly set the tone for the final pairings.  Lexi Harrison and Joanie Margolis filled out the cards, with Lexi standing tall against a clearly superior opponent; Lexi undaunted drove hard and chased down every ball, making Hopkins proud.  Joanie gave her all to her match and went stroke for stroke with her strong Suffield girl, losing only because of a few mishit balls and an impressive Suffield control of the T.

Though Suffield took the day, Hopkins had a strong day.  The girls played hard, adjusted their games to their opponents, and had solid preparation for this weekend’s trip to New Englands at Portsmouth Abbey.