NORTHAMPTON, Mass.--The Smith College Squash team battled two of the nation's top 25 teams to closed the Pioneer Valley Invitational on Sunday afternoon, squaring off against No. 20 Colby College and No. 24 Connecticut College.

Starting the day with a match against Colby, Smith (2-15) received strong efforts all around, as only seven sets of the whole match were decided by more than five points in an 8-1 loss.  Helen Queenan (Wellesley, Mass./Newton Country Day) defeated Sarah Robertson at No. 3 12-10, 11-9, 11-6.  Meg Oliverio (Boston, Mass./Commonwealth) and Jasmine Wallas (Nassau, Bahamas/Emma Willard (N.Y.)) also turned fine perforamances; Oliverio fell to Laura Abrams at No. 1 5-11, 11-9, 7-11, 8-11, and Wallas lost to Jenn Hoslip 6-11, 7-11, 11-5, 10-12. 

Elizabeth Guyman (Seattle, Wash./Lakeside) went to four sets at No. 6, 6-11, 11-9, 5-11, 6-11, facing off against Brittany Badik, and Catie Blunt (Boston, Mass./Commonwealth) also went four against Allie Hibb 11-8, 5-11, 4-11, 7-11 in the No. 7 spot. 


In the second match against the Camels, Smith fell 9-0, not but before tough outings by Blunt and Elena Plesco (Chinisau, Moldova/Iulia Hasdeu).  Plesco went four sets at No. 8 before falling to Penny Kagan, 11-5, 6-11, 1-11, 7-11, and Blunt, playing at No. 7, toughed out four sets before losing to Coco Cowan 11-5, 5-11, 1-11, 9-11.

The Pioneers will next host the Smith College Invitational on Jan. 22-23rd.  A full schedule will be released later this week.