Break ends as M. Squash to meet No. 1

After a long winter break, M. Squash meets Williams and No. 1 ranked Amherst. After a long winter break, the men's squash team will have its work cut out for them this weekend. They are facing Williams College and the perennial No. 1 team in the nation, Amherst College in the same day. "This weekend will test our team the most so far this year. However, I think that the guys are up for the challenge, " said coach Jim Masland. After getting mixed results against Yale and Brown, the Quakers feel confident about the weekend. The team lost to Yale, 8-1, suffering its worst lost of the season. Coach Masland feels the reason for the loss can be attributed to "the noise and cheering of the Yale fans. "The pressure situation really got to us. Their team is quite strong due to their good recruits," Masland said. The Quakers showed resolve and heart by avenging their crushing defeat with a 7-2 victory over Brown. "The team seemed to settle down from the loss against Yale and played their game. The guys played hard and tough. The team played collectively well, and that was good to see," Masland said. The Quakers have had a long break and seem to be ready to face both Williams and highly-touted Amherst. Coach Masland says the team is working hard and that everyone's attitude is good. The return of Juan Dominguez, the No. 1 junior in Spain in 1992, makes a good Quakers team even better. This sentiment is felt throughout the team. "We are much stronger due to the addition of Juan. He wasn't playing last semester because of injury, but he will really help the lineup," freshman standout Chuck Braff said. Jason Karp, a junior who only recently started playing for the Quakers, also thinks that the addition of Juan bolsters the teams chances of winning. "Our team is better now with Juan playing, and I feel we have a good chance against both teams tomorrow. I think we now have more depth throughout the lineup. We are more focused as a team now than last semester," Karp said. Dominguez will make quite an impact upon the team for the rest of the season but Masland also thinks that the team's overall improvement is due to working harder. "I am very encouraged by the increased attitude and work ethic on this team. The guys level of concentration is much higher. Everyday the team is playing better and better. Tomorrow's matches will be a tough challenge," Masland said. The men's squash team appears to be confident and ready for its matches tomorrow. Even though they will be facing two of the better schools in the nation, it seems ready and poised to pull off an upset or two. "The guys are very prepared for the two matches. Shames Mistry, the No. 1 player for Penn, is playing great and I feel that the guys are putting in a great effort," Masland said.