NEW YORK — The season opener for No. 4 Columbia Women's Squash was an absolute nail-biter, coming down to the final match, unfortunately for the Lions the final decision did not fall their way, as the No. 9 Virginia Cavaliers won 5-4 in a Sunday match at the SL Green Streetsquash Center.
 
Columbia got wins from sophomore Farida Mohamed, first-year Simmi Chan, senior Habiba Mohamed and junior Bunny Fox.  Three of the wins came at the top of the order as Columbia's one-through-three preformed at a high level in the season opener.
 
At No. 1, F. Mohamed got her collegiate career off to a strong start, taking down Virginia's Meagan Best in three sets, 11-5, 11-5, 11-5, to give the Lions a win at the top of the lineup.  Her sister, Habiba, had found herself in a battle with Virginia's Emma Jinks in the No. 3 match, surviving a second set loss and needing an extra point to win the third set.  But after putting down Jinks' comeback attempts the Lion senior calmly locked up the win with an 11-4 fourth set win.
 
At No. 2 spot, Chan got her first collegiate win through a strong 11-7, 11-8, 11-4 three set win.  While at No. 8, Fox picked up right where she had left off in 2020, snagging a five-set marathon victory over Amanda Haywood.  Both women traded the first four sets, to push the match to a fifth and deciding set.  Much like the previous four it was close, but as the end got close the Lion junior outlasted the Caviler senior to take the final set 11-9.
 
Where the match was decided was at the No. 4 spot, with the score knotted up at 4-4 Erica McGillicuddy faced Virginia's Maria Moya-Lopez to decide the overall match.  McGillicuddy was tough throughout, but Moya-Lopez was able to outlast the battling Lion junior and her three-set win, 11-9, 11-4, 11-7, locked up the 5-4 win for Virginia.
 
No. 4 Columbia next competes on Friday, Dec. 3, when they host Drexel in a 4 p.m. matchup.
 
For the latest on the Columbia squash programs, be sure to follow the teams on Twitter and Instagram (@CULionsSquash), on Facebook (Facebook.com/ColumbiaSquash), or by visiting GoColumbiaLions.com.
 
No. 9 Virginia 5, No. 4 Columbia
(1) Farida Mohamed (COL) def. Meagan Best (UVA): 11-5, 11-5, 11-5
(2) Simmi Chan (COL) def. Olivia Walsh (UVA): 11-7, 11-8, 11-4
(3) Habiba Mohamed (COL) def. Emma Jinks (UVA): 11-8, 9-11, 12-10, 11-4
(4) Maria Moya-Lopez (UVA) def. Erica McGillicuddy (COL): 11-9, 11-4, 11-7
(5) Sydney Maxwell (UVA) def. Sarah Cao (UVA): 12-10, 11-7, 9-11, 11-8
(6) Caroline Baldwin (UVA) def. Ellie McVeigh (COL): 11-9, 6-11, 10-12, 11-9, 11-5
(7) Erin O'Connor (UVA) def. Jannia Singh (COL): 11-4, 11-3, 11-5
(8) Bunny Fox (COL) def. Amanda Haywood (UVA): 9-11, 11-4, 11-8, 5-11, 11-9
(9) Maureen Foley (UVA) def. Elizabeth Lentz (COL): 16-14, 11-3, 11-3
(10) Renee Chan (COL) def. Nicolina Tessitore (UVA): 14-12, 11-6, 11-7