The University of Rochester squash team played some tough matches, but ultimately came out on the short end of an 8-1 decision at the hands of top-ranked Penn on Saturday afternoon at the Lyman Squash Center.
 
Penn moves to 9-0 on the season with the victory, while 10th-ranked Rochester drops its second straight, falling to 1-2.
 
Rochester's top third of the lineup was the highlight, with Yash Fadte taking the lone match point against his opponent, Nick Spizzirri, at #3. Fadte earned the win in three games, posting scores of 11-8, 11-6 and 11-8 for the win. The physical third set was key, as Spizzirri got up early 2-0, but Fadte rattled off six straight points to seize control. UR's first-year player hung on and secured the win. The loss was just Penn's second individual match lost this season through nine total matches.
 
At #2, Abdelrahman Lasheen looked to make it two straight points for Rochester on the center court, taking the first set 11-8 against Aly Abou Eleinen. The energy exerted to win the first set took its toll on Lasheen, as Abou Eleinen, a two-time All-American, rebounded for three straight wins to take the match 3-1. The point ended up being the match clincher as it put the Quakers up 5-1 in the team scoring.
 
Cesar Segundo battled Andrew Douglas at #1, with all three matches going to extra balls. Segundo's relentless retrievals and timely winners kept him within striking distance in each of the three sets. Douglas, a three-time CSA 1st Team All-American, ultimately squeaked out the victory in three, 12-10, 12-10 and 13-11.
 
Rochester's Omar Zakaria nearly battled back from two sets down at position five against Yash Bhargava. Penn earned wins of 11-3 and 11-9 to jump ahead early, but Zakaria took the next two 11-8 and 12-10 to force a tiebreaking fifth game. In the fifth, Bhargava got up early and never looked back to secure an 11-5 win and claim the point.
 
Penn took the remaining matches by 3-0 scores.
 
The Yellowjackets are back in action on Sunday again at the Lyman Center, this time taking on #3 Princeton in a noon matchup. After Sunday, in the first four matches of the season, Rochester has battled the top-3 teams in the 2021-22 college squash rankings.