PHILADELPHIA – The Drexel squash teams will open the 2018-19 season this weekend at the Pennsylvania State Classic, beginning Saturday against Dickinson. The women begin play at 1 p.m., followed by the men. Drexel will close out the opening weekend Sunday afternoon.
SEASON OUTLOOK
After the men's squash program reached new heights in the 2016-17 campaign, it was the women's squash program's turn to take great strides forward in 2017-18. The Dragons won the 2018 'B' Division Kurtz Cup championship over Dartmouth to avenge runner-up finishes in their previous two tries. With the Kurtz Cup victory, they finished the year ranked No. 9 in the country, the highest College Squash Association ranking they have achieved to conclude a season. Drexel finished the year with an 11-8 record, tying the program mark for single-season victories.
The Dragons sent six women into action at the CSA Individual Championships in Washington, D.C. Hayley and Anna Hughes highlighted the competition for the Dragons by advancing to the Holleran Cup South Division semifinal to conclude the year. On the season, Ryan Morgan became the program's all-time winningest player, finishing her career with 52 victories. Hannah Blatt broke the program mark for individual single-season wins, going 17-4 in her rookie campaign. Hughes was also named to the Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Men's At-Large Team.
Last season, the men's squad won the Hoehn Cup (B Division) consolation bracket at the Men's Team National Championships in Hartford, Conn. to finish with a final Dunlop/CSA national ranking of No. 13. The Dragons sent five men into action at the CSA Individual Championships at Squash on Fire in Washington, D.C. Lucas Rousselet highlighted the competition, earning Second Team All-American status after winning the Molloy Cup West Division. Rousselet joined Bransten Ming and Omar El Atmas as the only Drexel men's players to pull off the feat. Ming earned second team status two seasons ago, while El Atmas was first team in 2016 and second in 2017. Noel Solomon was named to the Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Men's At-Large Team and concluded his career with 32 victories, the ninth most in Drexel men's squash history. In addition, Ming and Rousselet finished the 2018-19 season with winning records of 13-9 and 15-8, respectively.
SCOUTING DICKINSON
The men's team closed out the season, following another strong campaign, finishing 12-8 overall on the year. They captured the Summers Cup: C Division Title, holding off Franklin & Marshall, 5-4, to finish with the highest national ranking in the program's four-year history, holding the No. 17 spot.
The women's team compiled a 10-9 season record, including two 5-4 wins against Centennial Conference rival Franklin & Marshall. The team also made a run to the final of the Walker Cup division at the Women's National Team Championships and improved five ranking positions from last season, moving from No. 23 in 2016-2017 to a final ranking this season of No. 18.
SERIES HISTORY VS. DICKINSON
Both the men's and women's teams lead the all-time series against Dickinson 4-0, while also defeating the Devils by identical scores of 9-0 last season.
SCOUTING PENN
The men's team had a successful season in the Ivy League ending their 13 year drought in Cornell with a sweep, defeating Yale for the first time since 1995, and starting the season 8-1, their best start since 1985, with a sweep over Brown. They concluded the year with a 11-7 overall record, while ranking No. 7 in the country.
The women's squad finished the year fifth in the Ivy League with a 3-4 conference record and are ranked No. 6 nationally. For the second straight season, Reeham Salah was named Ivy League Player of the Year. Penn also nabbed two spots in the All-Ivy selections, with Salah and senior Melissa Alves earning first team honors.
SERIES HISTORY VS. PENN
On Nov. 30, 2016, the men's team knocked off Penn for the first time in six tries. No. 9 Drexel upset No. 6 Penn, 5-4, at the Kline & Specter Squash Center. The women's team is still winless against the Quakers.
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