Six W. Squash players will play for individual honors

The individualnational title, All-America and All-Ivy honors await top finishers at Amherst. This weekend, the Penn women's squash team will battle it out for bragging rights for the top intercollegiate squash player in the country. Friday through Sunday, the top six members of the Penn team -- which finished third in the nation behind Princeton and Harvard -- will compete individually in the Intercollegiates. The winner of the prestigious tournament, held in Amherst, Mass., is crowned the top player in the country. "It's also important to showcase your abilities because you must compete in order to be eligible for All-American or All-Ivy honors," Penn coach Demer Holleran said. Intercollegiates is a tournament of the nation's 64 best women's squash players. Every school that competes in intercollegiate squash is entitled to enter one player. Penn received the honor of having six members invited to play -- the most of any team along with Princeton and Harvard. The seedings have been determined, but the Quakers anxiously await the announcement of the draw, to see who they will play first, and who they might meet in the final. "I'm really pleased about the seedings," Holleran said. "It's fantastic that Penn has three players in the top 16." Leading the pack for the Quakers is junior captain Jessica DiMauro, who is the No. 2 seed. Sophomore Katie Patrick, Penn's No. 2 player, will follow her with a No. 6 seeding. Freshman Helen Bamber is seeded in the top 16, followed by Dana Lipson and Lauren Patrizio in the 17-32 bracket. Rina Borromeo will compete in the 33-64 bracket. DiMauro is primed for a rematch against Princeton rival Julia Beaver. Beaver, the No. 1 seed in the tournament has beaten her twice already this season. "Jessica certainly has the ability to beat her," Holleran said. "She just has to get all of her competitive energies together and stick to her strategy." DiMauro knows that patience is the key to winning. She must hit the ball consistently to Beaver's backhand and avoid her tough volley. DiMauro was the favorite to win the Intercollegiates the past two years. She was the champion as a freshman, but fell in five games in the championship match last year. "Last year was different because I hadn't lost a match all year," DiMauro said. "This year I know to play strong from the start. I can't just sit back and relax. "I am glad that I'm going in as the second seed because there is less pressure," she added. "I have nothing to lose because she's beaten me twice already. She's definitely beatable, but I wouldn't mind if someone else knocked her out first." One person who has the potential to beat Beaver is Patrick. The sophomore has a lot of confidence going into the tournament. She has quietly proven herself on the Penn squad, going undefeated in dual match play for the last two years. "Katie is underrated playing behind Jessica, and she has the ability to win this tournament," Holleran said. "She is a contender and knows how to put the pressure on her opponent." The other four Penn players are each expected to win at least their first two matches. Bamber, Lipson, Patrizio and Borromeo should all be tested for the first time this season. Playing in the three through six spots in the strong Penn lineup hasn't provided them with much opportunity to face the nation's better players. "I'm really excited because I am going to play people who are tougher than most of the opponents I have faced at the No. 3 spot," Bamber said. "I think I'll match up much better against them. Also, you can only improve by playing people better than you." The toughest part of the tournament is the endurance it takes to play six matches in three days -- if you get to the finals, that is. The semi-final and final matches are all played in the same day. "It will really depend on who has the easiest semis, as to who has the advantage in the final," DiMauro said. "You have to try not to waste too much energy." Although they won't speak of it to each other because of a jinx, DiMauro and Patrick secretly hope they will meet each other in the finals.