NEW YORK, NY – The University of Rochester squash team earned a hard fought 6-3 victory over Columbia University in a College Squash top-5 battle on Saturday afternoon at the Green Streetsquash Center.
 
Rochester (7-1), ranked #2 in the latest CSA poll, snaps a 3-match losing streak to the Lions (4-3), who dropped to #5 in this weeks CSA rankings.  The Yellowjackets have now won five straight matches overall this season.
 
Although UR never trailed in the match, there was certainly no shortage of drama, as the final two matches of the day, at #1 and #3 both went to five sets, with the overall win up for grabs.
 
With Rochester clinging to a 4-3 overall lead, Sophomore Ashley Davies from Rochester earned the clinching point at #1 singles in a win over Velavan Senthilkumar.  Davies dropped the opening game 11-8, won the second by that same score before falling behind 11-6 in the third.  The UR sophomore then rebounded with a 11-3 win and took the decisive fifth game 11-7.
 
The Yellowjackets picked up the early lead with a quick 3-0 win from sophomore Marcus Sim at #6.  Sim defeated Krish Kapur, surrendering only six points in the 11-1, 11-3, and 11-2 victory.
 

It was 2-0 UR after Rodrigo Porras continued his hot start to the season, earning his eighth victory in a row.  Porras defeated Arman Jindal in four games, posting a 12-10, 8-11, 11-7 and 11-5 win.
 
The Lions looked to rally, winning the next two points at #2 and #4.  At two, James Wyatt picked up a 3-1 win (11-6, 6-11, 11-3, 11-8) over Rochester's Ricardo Lopez.  Carter Robitaille followed suit with a win, outlasting Lawrence Kuhn in five games (12-10, 11-9, 9-11, 6-11, 11-5).
 
Cesar Segundo then completed a 3-0 win over Rahul Sehrawat to regain Rochester's advantage.  Segundo was an 11-8, 11-7 and 11-3 winner.
 
Transfer Sergio Martin then picked up a huge come from behind win at #9, rallying past Aditya Kankariya to pull the Yellowjackets ahead 4-2 and within striking distance of taking the overall match.  Martin dropped the opening two games 14-12 and 11-6, but stormed back, winning 11-9, 11-5 and 11-9 in the final three games to keep momentum on Rochester's side.
 
That momentum was halted after Robin Mann earned a 3-1 win for Columbia at #5 over Thijs Van Der Pluijm.  Mann responded after losing the first game 12-10, with three straight wins, 11-7, 11-3 and 11-6 to keep the Lions alive.
 
With two matches remaining on court, Columbia held a 2-1 set lead in each match, only to see the Yellowjackets bounce back and earn the final two points of the match.  After Davies' win clinched it for UR, Matthew Toth completed his comeback at #3, earning a 7-11, 11-1, 6-11, 11-6 and 11-8 win.
 
In the #10 exhibition match, Rochester's Alex Riedelsheimer won in three games, 11-6, 11-6 and 11-7.
 
Rochester is back in action on Sunday, playing another road contest at #7 Yale University.  Columbia's Sunday matchup against St. Lawrence University has been postponed due to the wintery weather across the northeast.