HARTFORD, Conn. - The No. 4 Yale men's squash team defeated No. 2 Penn, 5-4, in the Potter Cup consolation match at the 2023 College Squash Association (CSA) National Team Championships.

It was a tight battle between two top-five nationally ranked powerhouses. The last time these two teams met, Penn dominated in a 7-2 victory in Philadelphia in January. This time, the Bulldogs got their redemption and edged the Quakers on the national stage.

Yale's lineup from top to bottom battled through each set, and the squad's No. 6-No. 9 players came in clutch for the second-straight day.  Captain Eric Kim put on another strong showing in his match, defeating his opponent in 37 minutes and coming back after falling down a set early on. Arav Bhagwati swept his opponent in 21 minutes, while Nikhil Ismail powered through an hour and 17 minute match that saw the sophomore take down his opponent in five sets. Merritt Wurts was inserted into Yale's No. 9 spot and worked his opponent in each set. Four of the five sets for Wurts were decided by four-or-less points.

In a massive victory for the Bulldogs, Siow Yee Xian, competing in Yale's No. 1 spot, also came back after being edged in the first set.

"I couldn't be more proud of this team in this moment," expressed Lynn Leong, Brooks G. Ragen Director of Squash. "Throughout the season, our players stayed focused, took care of each other, and delivered consistent efforts match after match. Beating an incredible Penn team today is a testament to their resolve and determination, and was a great way to cap off the season."

Match Scores

1. Siow Yee Xian (YALE) def. Nathan Tze Bing Kueh (PENN)—3-1 (8-11, 11-3, 11-6, 11-6)
2. Nicholas Spizzirri (PENN) def. Maxwell Orr (YALE)—3-0 (11-5, 11-5, 11-7)
3. Omar Hafez (PENN) def. Max Forster (YALE)—3-0 (11-9, 12-10, 12-10)
4. Dillion Huang (PENN) def. Tad Carney (YALE)—3-2 (11-4, 8-11, 3-11, 14-12, 11-3)
5. Saksham Choudhary (PENN) def. Jed Burde (YALE)—3-2 (11-13, 9-11, 11-8, 11-3, 11-6)
6. Arav Bhagwati (YALE) def. Dana Santry (PENN)—3-0 (11-0, 11-9, 11-4)
7. Nikhil Ismail (YAL) def. Abdelrahman Dweek (PENN)—3-2 (11-7, 12-10, 6-11, 7-11, 11-7)
8. Eric Kim (YALE) def. Shaam Gambhir (PENN)—3-1 (9-11, 11-0, 11-3, 11-3)
9. Merritt Wurts (YAL) def. Oliver Green (PENN)—3-1 (7-11, 11-8, 11-6, 1-11, 11-9)

Up Next
The Bulldogs will look ahead to the College Squash Association's (CSA) Individual and Doubles Championships from March 3 - March 5.