Penn blanks F&M; without its top two

If there is one inherent negative in the collegiate squash season, it is the schedule. As soon as teams get into a rhythm in early December, finals rear their ugly heads. So it was with great anticipation the Penn women's squash team opened the second half of its season last evening in Lancaster, Pa., against Franklin and Marshall. Apparently, six weeks has changed very little, as the Quakers allayed any fears of rustiness by rolling to a 9-0 victory over the Diplomats. The Penn squad, generally considered one of the four best in the nation, played without the top two players on its depth chart, Jessica DiMauro and Lissa Hunsicker, who were dropped to create closer matchups with the weaker hosts. In their stead, freshman Dana Lipson moved into the first spot. She had more than just her opponent, Kat MacDonald, to contend with--Lipson had to make the transition from wide international courts to the narrower hardball ones. "You have to really change your shots," Lipson said. "You have to do a lot more thinking." After losing the opening game, 9-4, Lipson took control of the match, surrendering a scant four points in the next three games. The rest of the Quakers (8-0) showed similar mastery, the most obvious example being the domination demonstrated by ninth-place player Amanda Bradford. The freshman shut out of Stephanie Mikesell, 9-0, 9-0, 9-0, in straight sets. The Diplomats took just two of 29 games in the meet. "I'm proud of the way they upheld the winning tradition," coach Demer Holleran said. This non-league encounter was ideal for the Quakers to work on their hardball-court play. At home, the top six players never play on the hardball courts, which presents different angles and hinders the cross-court shot. Although narrow courts are out of fashion, they are nevertheless utilized at the Howe Cup, which determines the national team champion. "It's definitely a good experience for the Howe Cup," Lipson said. In the month's build-up for that event, the team will also be making a run for Ivy League glory, and yesterday's decisive win is the first step. It was all the more sweet for the month and a half the Quakers had to wait.