Lions Roll Past Colby to Advance to Kurtz Cup Semifinals

**PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – **Columbia women's squash punched its ticket to the Kurtz Cup semifinals with a decisive 8–1 victory over Colby in the opening round of the CSA Divisional Team Championships. With the win, the Lions advance to Saturday's semifinals where they will face No. 2 Georgetown.

Senior captain

Nourin Khalifa opened the afternoon with a composed four-game win at No. 1, defeating Laavanya Kugan, 5-11, 11-9, 11-3, 11-6.

First year

Yeheni Kuruppu delivered the match's lone five-game battle at No. 2, outlasting Nathalie Sim, 11-7, 10-12, 11-8, 11-13, 11-6, in a 37-minute test of endurance.

Senior

Amal Izhar controlled the No. 4 position with an efficient 11-6, 11-9, 11-4 sweep, while junior

Eugenia Li dominated at No. 5 (11-3, 11-2, 11-5).

First year

Charlie McCrone added a straight-game victory at No. 6, 11-5, 11-9, 11-6.

Columbia's lower third sealed the result in fashion. First year

Isha Gupta rolled to an 11-2, 11-7, 11-2 win at No. 7, junior

Advita Sharma followed with an 11-4, 11-1, 11-4 decision at No. 8, and sophomore

Sophia Hu closed the afternoon at No. 9 with a commanding 11-1, 11-4, 11-4 sweep.

Columbia 8, Colby 1

1S –

Nourin Khalifa (CU) def. Laavanya Kugan (COL), 5-11, 11-9, 11-3, 11-6

2S –

Yeheni Kuruppu (CU) def. Nathalie Sim (COL), 11-7, 10-12, 11-8, 11-13, 11-6

3S – Abhisheka David (COL) def.

Kaavya Bansal (CU), 12-10, 11-6, 6-11, 11-9

4S –

Amal Izhar (CU) def. Margaret "Maggie" Motch (COL), 11-6, 11-9, 11-4

5S –

Eugenia Li (CU) def. Reshika Rajarathinam (COL), 11-3, 11-2, 11-5

6S –

Charlie McCrone (CU) def. Amanda Miller (COL), 11-5, 11-9, 11-6

7S –

Isha Gupta (CU) def. Victoria "Tori" Thill (COL), 11-2, 11-7, 11-2

8S –

Advita Sharma (CU) def. Haley Coon (COL), 11-4, 11-1, 11-4

9S –

Sophia Hu (CU) def. Virginia McWhorter (COL), 11-1, 11-4, 11-4

UP NEXT

The Lions advance to Saturday's semifinal, where they will face Georgetown for a spot in the Kurtz Cup championship. The matchup is scheduled for 3 pm.

FOLLOWING THE LIONS

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