NORTHAMPTON, Mass.--The Smith College squash team is on the cusp of qualifying for the C Division of the Howe Cup after going 2-1 at the Smith College Invitational this weekend.  After falling to William Smith 6-3 in the first match of the weekend, Smith topped Northeastern 9-0 and Vassar College 7-2 on Sunday.

On Saturday's match against the Herons, Smith got wins at the top three positions, and the matches were close throughout before William Smith won the final six games.  Jacquline Zhou defeated Caroline Moxley at No. 11-4, 11-2, 11-4, while Clair Oblamski (Brookfield, Wis./Brookfield East) beat Andrea Tran 11-1, 11-9, 11-5 at No. 2.  Jen Krain earned Smith's third win with an 11-5, 9-11, 4-11, 11-5, 11-6 win at No. 3.

Eunice Zhao (Las Vegas, Nev./Liberty) fell narrowly to Courtney Leous at No. 4 11-8, 10-12, 7-11, 10-12, while Jaimi Inskeep (Warrenville, Ill./Wheaton Warrenville So.) fell in four games to Anne Habecker at No. 6 12-10, 9-11, 5-11, 2-11.  Catie Blunt (Boston, Mass./Commonwealth) and Szilvia B. Kiss also went four games at Nos. 7 and 9, respectively. 

In the match against Northeastern, Smith cruised, with only one match going beyond three games.  Zhou, Oblamski, Krain, Zhao, Helen Queenan (Wellesley, Mass./Newton Country Day), Inskeep, Blunt, Elena Plesco (Chinisau, Moldova/Iulia Hasdeu), and Kiss all recorded victories.

The Pioneers capped the weekend with a solid win against Vassar.  The Brewers had beaten Smith 6-3 in the season opener on November 5, but Smith won with six of the nine matches going to five games.  Zhou beat Meg Taylor 9-11, 11-9, 11-4, 8-11, 11-9 at No. 1., while Oblamski went to extra points in two games to beat Libby Pei 11-3, 11-13, 14-12, 11-5 at No. 2.  Krain beat Nina Punukollu 11-5, 13-11, 12-14, 11-5 at No. 3., and Eunice Zhao (Las Vegas, Nev./Liberty) beat Alexandra Bowditch 14-12, 11-6, 11-8 at No. 4. 

Helen Queenan (Wellesley, Mass./Newton Country Day) sealed the win for Smith with an 11-1, 13-11, 11-6 win over Jill Levin at No. 5, while Inskeep came back to beat Lisa Evens 11-5, 6-11, 9-11, 11-3, 11-8 at No. 6.  Blunt knocked off Sanam Khanna 11-9, 11-8, 8-11, 13-11 at No. 7.

The Brewers earned their two points in five game matches, as Katherine Cornish beat Elena Plesco (Chinisau, Moldova/Iulia Hasdeu) 11-7, 8-11, 7-11, 11-3, 11-2, and Amanda Scott beat Kiss 11-8, 6-11, 14-12, 7-11, 11-8.

Smith will finish the regular season with the Seven Sisters Championship hosted by Vassar this weekend.