CANTON, N.Y. – The University of Rochester squash team earned its sixth straight and 12th overall Liberty League title in team history following an 8-1 win over host St. Lawrence University on Sunday afternoon at the Robie Squash Center.
Rochester's stretch of six consecutive titles is the second such streak in school history, matching the Yellowjackets run from 2008 through 2013. Either Rochester or St. Lawrence has won the last 19 Liberty League titles and all but two since the league tournament started back in the 2003-04 season.
In Sunday's action, Rochester (8-6) raced out to a 6-0 lead after the opening two waves, with four of those wins being by 3-0 sweeps. The loss drops the Saints to 7-6 on the season.
Nic Gill made quick work of Athrva Yadav at number eight, winning 11-8, 11-2 and 11-7 (3-0) for the opening point of the match.
At two, Omar Zakaria won in four games, 3-1 (11-7, 11-8, 9-11, 11-3) over Patrick Walford, with Jake Koeppel making its 3-0 Yellowjackets with an 11-8, 15-13, 11-5 (3-0) win over Miguel Posada Villa in the six slot.
To open the second wave, Van Inman-Benavente rallied after dropping the opening game to win 9-11, 11-6, 11-6 and 11-4 (3-1) at seven against Harry Robson to put Rochester within one point of securing the title.
The clinching point was earned by Dhirren Rajarathinam, who won 11-7, 11-3 and 11-6 (3-0) at number three against Oliver Bikhazi-Green.
Arnav Mandhana kept the momentum rolling to complete another wave sweep, winning 3-1 (8-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-5) against Hassan Madkour at the fifth spot on the ladder.
Completing the match, Rochester's Preston Wu swept Dean Brooker at number nine 11-7, 11-4 and 11-5 (3-0) and number four player Tom Whiteley earned another 3-0 sweep, topping Harrison Callaway 11-9, 11-7 and 11-3.
St. Lawrence's lone point of the match was at the number one, with Grégory Malsang defeating Rochester's Yash Fadte. Fadte earned an 11-8 win in the opening set before Malsang took the second and third 14-12 and 11-3 before Fadte was forced to retire from the match.