Even with top three out, W. Squash cruises, 9-0

Despite dropping its top three players from the lineup in yesterday's matches against Johns Hopkins, the results were like any other day for the Penn women's squash team, which cruised to a 9-0 win over the Blue Jays. "We knew the matches weren't going to be tough, but we didn't go in cocky," said junior Laura Guimond, who usually plays in the No. 12 position but jumped up to No. 7 for the match. For the players, who do not usually play in the top nine at the varsity level, it was an opportunity to show off their skills. "Knowing it was a varsity match, I felt a little pressured," said Guimond, who still reeled off a 9-4, 9-2, 9-2 victory. "Dropping the top three players gives those lower on the ladder more opportunity to be competitive," Penn coach Demer Holleran said. "They're all very competitive, and they don't like to lose." No one even came close. The only player to even lose a game was freshman and Daily Pennsylvanian staffer Emily Lebovitz, who rallied 9-0, 9-3, 9-0, after losing her first game 10-8. Senior captain Katy Textor, who usually plays in the No. 7 position, pounded Johns Hopkins's No. 3 player, 9-2, 9-1, 9-0. "Even though they weren't hard to beat, it was hard because we had to play down and this week we really need to play up and hard for this weekend," she said. The team is extremely focused this week with Harvard and Dartmouth -- the Quakers' toughest matches of the season -- looming on the horizon. The Harvard matches will be played on narrow courts, where the Quakers are less experienced in match play. The easy victories over John Hopkins "will help people feel more comfortable this weekend," said freshman Lindsay Moss, who won easily playing in the No. 1 position. Although the matches were a breeze for the Quakers, they are hungry to keep their undefeated record and put up a win against stronger competition. "It was worth getting in some matches since this weekend's going to be tough," Holleran said. "They competed as a team and it was good for team spirit."