NORTHAMPTON, Mass.--The Smith College squash team went 1-3 at this weekend's Pioneer Valley Invitational co-hosted by Smith, Amherst, and Mount Holyoke.  The Pioneers beat Haverford in their tournament opener before falling to Franklin and Marshall, Colby, and Connecticut College.

Opening against the Fords, Smith got wins at the top six postions.  Clair Oblamski (Brookfield, Wis./Brookfield East), elevated to No. 1 with an injury to Jacquline Zhou, earned a tough five game win over Caroline Nightengale 11-8, 11-7, 5-11, 6-11, 11-4, while Jennifer Krain (Rosemont, Pa./Harriton) blew past Kira Jones 11-0, 11-5, 11-3 at No. 2.  Eunice Zhao (Las Vegas, Nev./Liberty) beat Alex Love 11-3, 11-5, 6-11, 11-5 at No. 3, followed by Helen Queenan (Wellesley, Mass./Newton Country Day)'s 11-3, 11-8, 12-10 win over Kate Mundell at No. 4.

At No. 5 Jaimi Inskeep (Warrenville, Ill./Wheaton Warrenville So.) beat Randee Johnson 11-9, 11-6, 11-2, and Catie Blunt (Boston, Mass./Commonwealth) made it six in a row with a 12-10, 11-6, 9-11, 9-11, 11-8 win over Roxanne Jaffe.  Szilvia Kiss topped Zoe Becker 11-7, 11-7, 11-9 at No. 8, and Vivian Lee (Seoul, South Korea/Yongsan International School of Seoul) won at No. 9 over Miriam Fuchs 11-2, 11-5, 11-5.

Against Franklin & Marshall, ranked 17th in the latest Dunlop poll, Smith found it tough going as the Diplomats swept all nine matches in three games.  Oblamski came closest for Smith, falling 2-11, 11-13, 3-11 at No. 1.

In their third match of the tournament, Smith lost to Colby College 7-2.  Elena Plesco (Chinisau, Moldova/Iulia Hasdeu) picked up Smith's first point with an 11-5, 13-11, 11-8 win over Ameilia Barnett at No. 8, followed by Kiss' win over Sophie Frishberg by an 11-2, 11-2, 11-4 score.

The tournament closed with a matchup against Connecticut College, who beat Smith 6-3.  Zhou returned to the lineup with a four game, 8-11, 10-12, 11-9, 9-11 loss t Caroline Sargent, while Oblamski beat Laura Abrams 11-4, 11-3, 11-4 at No. 2.  Queenan and Blunt picked up wins for Smith at Nos. 5 and 7, respectively; Queenan edged Brittany Badlik 8-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-5, and Blunt knocked off Becca Markson 13-11, 6-11, 11-9, 11-3.

Smith will next be in action against William Smith on January 28 at the Smith College Invitational at 10 a.m.