W. Squash shuts out Haverford

As everyone expected, the Penn women's squash team coasted to a decisive 9-0 defeat of Haverford yesterday afternoon at Ringe Courts. Certain of victory, fourth-year Penn coach Demer Holleran removed the regular top five players from the lineup in order give real match action to those with less experience. It was also hoped that play would be competitive. The strategy was not completely successful on the second count, since none of the Red and Blue (4-0) dropped a game. That's 27 out of 27. "I was pleased with the way j.v. players played in a varsity match," Holleran said. The match counts as much as any other, but the Quakers primarily viewed the match as an opportunity to develop skills in a safe setting. "It's a time when we can practice shots we're not confident of," senior co-captain Jenna Bertocchi said. She added that the danger is playing down to the level of inferior opposition. Despite facing a Quakers team that realistically discusses a goal of finishing in the top three in the nation, the Fords did not bring a defeatist attitude into the contest. "They fought hard. I was impressed," Bertocchi said. Perhaps that was a result of listening to philosophical Haverford coach Albert Dillon. "I train my team to compete for what it is they are able to accomplish. We approach all matches to play as well as you can possibly play [in the effort to] lift one's consciousness," he said. "If you're playing to win, you're up against awesome odds." That's putting it lightly for Haverford, which met a Penn team that is preparing for this weekend's Ivy League openers by posting impressive victories. Three of four have been 9-0 shutouts, and the other was its first victory in 13 seasons over Trinity. Yesterday's match served as a good tune-up for the all-important lower half of the lineup before the strong competition of Brown and Yale. "It's always good to get on the court," Holleran said. Her players agreed, as many stayed on the court to play each other after barely breaking a sweat in official competition. It may not have been nail-biting, suspenseful action, but it was a solid victory. With bigger things on the horizon, a methodical triumph against overmatched opponents is more than adequate output.