UVA wins first Kurtz Cup title after downing top-seeded Dartmouth

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Photo: UVA Athletics

The second-seeded Virginia women’s squash team won the Kurtz Cup on Sunday, rallying from a 3-0 deficit to defeat top-seeded Dartmouth, 6-3, in the finals of the B division of the College Squash Association Team Championships at the Brady Squash Center in New Haven, Conn.

The Cavaliers (17-6) dropped their opening three matches to Dartmouth (8-7), falling in positions three, nine and four. Senior Emma Jinks captured Virginia’s first point with a 12-10, 11-7, 11-5 win in position one against Anne Blasberg.

Freshman Julia Curran defeated Sandra Reiss in position seven, winning the match, 11-9, 8-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-5, as junior Emily Woodworth tied the score with a 10-12, 11-5, 11-4, 11-8 win against Emma Mactaggart in position six.

Freshman Maria Paula Moya gave Virginia the lead, coming from behind to go 4-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-4 in position two against Emma Supattapone. Freshman Grace Seymour clinched the deciding point with a 12-10, 11-3, 11-3 win against Julia Potter in position eight.

Senior Julia Thompson closed the day with a 11-8, 11-9, 11-8 victory over Ellie Gozigian in position five.

“I couldn’t be prouder of this team,” head coach Mark Allen said. “They played their hearts out today. Historically, going 3-0 down after the first wave of matches is something that our team has not been able to recover from, but today when their backs were against the wall, they believed in their own ability and played great quality squash to find their way back into the match.

“I rank this as the best performance yet from the women’s team in our three years as a varsity program and the result ensures that this team finishes the season ranked in the top 10 for the first time ever. Today’s match was the last for six amazing seniors – lifting the Kurtz Cup was the perfect send off for them. They’ve given so much and deserved this storybook ending to their illustrious college careers.”

The Virginia men’s team will compete in the CSA Championships, beginning Feb. 28 in Boston. The Cavaliers are still awaiting tournament seeding.

Virginia def. Dartmouth 6-3

1. Emma Jinks (UVA) def. Anne Blasberg (DC) — 12-10, 11-7, 11-5

2. Maria Paula Moya (UVA) def. Emma Supattapone (DC) — 4-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-4

3. Jesse Brownell (DC) def. Sydney Maxwell (UVA) — 11-7, 11-9, 11-9

4. Claire Aube (DC) def. Mandy Haywood (UVA) — 11-8, 9-11, 8-11, 13-11, 13-11

5. Julia Thompson (UVA) def. Ellie Gozigian (DC) — 11-8, 11-9, 11-8

6. Emily Woodworth (UVA) def. Emma Mactaggart (DC) — 10-12, 11-5, 11-4, 11-8

7. Julia Curran (UVA) def. Sandra Reiss (DC) — 11-9, 8-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-5

8. Grace Seymour (UVA) def. Julia Potter (DC) — 12-10, 11-3, 11-3

9. Carline Mollenkopf (DC) def. Caroline Baldwin (UVA) — 9-11, 11-5, 5-11, 12-10, 11-5

Order of Finish: 3, 9, 4, 1, 7, 6, 2, 8, 5