In a match that will hopefully be a sign of good things to come for its new coaching staff, the women's squash team broke a three-all tie with a trio of clutch wins to triumph over Williams College, 6-3, on Thursday night at the Berry Sports Center.
The men's team, which, like the women's team, was playing its first match of the new year, fell to a deep Williams squad, 7-2.
The women's win marked the first Big Green victory of the regular season for new head coach Chris Schutz Brownell '87, a former All-American squash player for Dartmouth. Brownell replaces Jim McCracken, who left the team after a five-year stint as head coach.
Joining Brownell are assistant coaches Lex Miron '93, an All-American for Dartmouth last year, and Josh Horwitz, a standout on last year's Harvard squad.
Playing at the number one spot for Brownell, Sascha Greatrex '95 lived up to the expectations spawned by her All-Ivy selection in the 1993 season. Greatrex blasted Williams' freshman phenom Chloe Bland in three straight games.
Other shutout winners for Dartmouth included Lindsey Amon '94 at the number three spot, Melissa McCollum '96 at four, and Betsy Allen '96 at eight. Allen's lopsided victory was all the more satisfying, as it came in her first match ever for the Big Green.
Williams countered these four quick Dartmouth wins with three of its own to leave the fate of the match in the hands of the four remaining players on the courts. Dartmouth took both of those remaining showdowns, dominating Williams at the top and the bottom of the ladder.
Holly Parker '96 won her match, 3-1, to secure the team victory, but it was Maura Schneider '96, who added the salt to the Ephs' wounds by winning the final match to result in a 6-3 decision.
The men, who lost 7-2, had a much tougher time with Williams' hardball play.
Craig Parker '94 pulled out a victory from Walker Stapleton at the number four spot. Parker was looking to avenge his loss to Stapleton last season and did so with an emotionally charged and drawn out 3-2 win.
The only other Dartmouth victory came from David Dwyer '94, who won 3-1 at the number nine spot. The men are now 0-2 in the season.
