WELLESLEY, Mass. – Wellesley College squash opened the 2015-16 campaign with an 8-1 victory over local rival Boston College on Wednesday evening at the Dana Hall School's Shipley Center. 

The Blue swept the top eight spots in the ladder, winning matches one through seven thanks to 3-0 sweeps. Sophomore Sarah Zhang (Lexington, Mass.) battled BC senior Caroline Whelan to take an 11-5, 11-7, 11-6 victory. Classmate Phyllis Lin  (Acton, Mass.) then defeated Gracie Lavoie, 11-1, 11-2, 11-3, as the Blue's top-two players opened the year with match wins.

Junior Meera Nayar (Mamaroneck, N.Y.) took the win at number three, securing the first victory in the match over Grace Tregidgo, 11-1, 11-1, 11-3.  Senior Gabriella Wynne (Brookline, Mass.) then went on to defeat the Eagles' Caroline Kulig at number four, 11-6, 11-4, 11-2, while Navisha Gupta (Mumbai, India) topped Katherine Neuberger, 11-8, 11-2, 11-4, at number five.

Junior Ruby Feng (Old Lyme Conn.) and senior Kate Loftus (Portland, Ore.) earned wins at number six and seven, respectively, while first year Tamara Deshong (Brooklyn, N.Y.) recorded her first collegiate win at number eight, 11-2, 8-11, 12-10, 11-7, over Paige Hanauer.

The Eagles got one back in the number nine matchup, as Qi Ying Lim defeated Blue sophomore Meredith Curry in four, 11-4, 13-11, 4-11, 12-10. BC also took the exhibition match thanks to an 11-3, 11-5, 7-11, 11-6, win by Abigail Regan over Lumi Kinjo (Tokyo, Japan).

Wellesley squash will continue a season-opening three-match home stand with a pair of matches next Saturday afternoon, November 14. The Blue will host Seven Sisters rivals Mount Holyoke at 4:00 PM and Smith at 5:30 PM.