NORTHAMPTON, Mass.--The Smith College squash team opened up the Pioneer Valley Invitational with a 9-0 loss to No. 17 Columbia University on Friday night.

Playing their first match in more than a month, the Pioneers (1-11) received strong efforts from Eunice Zhao (Las Vegas, Nev./Liberty), who battled Skylar Dickey before falling 5-11, 4-11, 3-11 at No. 4, and Catie Blunt (Boston, Mass./Commonwealth), who lost to Morgan Strauss 2-11, 5-11, 2-11.  Julie Wang (Manlius, N.Y./Fayetteville-Manlius/), making her debut for the Pioneers, also played well, falling at No. 7 to Anne Cheng 3-11, 4-11, 5-11.

The Pioneers will resume play tomorrow with three more matches, taking on St. Lawrence at 10 a.m., Wellesley at 4:00 p.m., and Wesleyan at 5:30 p.m.  The Lions will play Mt. Holyoke tomorrow, taking on Colby College and Mt. Holyoke College.