The #16/fourth-seeded Middlebury women's squash team built a 3-1 lead Friday and never looked back in an 8-1 triumph over #17/fifth-seeded Bowdoin in the College Squash Association Kurtz Cup in Philadelphia.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Madeline Schwarz (11-6, 11-8, 11-5) and Mariana Reedich (11-7, 11-8, 9-11, 11-9) pushed the Panthers to an early 2-0 lead with their victories at #7 and #5, respectively.
• The Polar Bears responded, cutting the lead to one (2-1) behind a five-game victory at the top of the ladder.
• Middlebury kept its foot on the gas pedal. Izzy Ronda tallied a 3-0 victory over Amelie Matuch in the sixth spot while sister Lucy Ronda rallied from a 2-1 deficit to defeat Kira Gwadry in five games (11-7, 6-11, 6-11, 11-8, 13-11) to put the Panthers on the brink.
• Abby Holding clinched the match in the second slot, defeating Amanda Cowhey in four games (11-7, 11-7, 5-11, 11-6). 
• Abbie Peterson (#9) and Sabrina Schwarz (#3) earned 3-0 sweeps, while Anavi Anand rebounded from dropping the first game to secure a 3-2 triumph over Darcy Weber. 

NOTES

• With the victory, the Panthers have recorded double-digit victories in three-consecutive seasons.
• In the exhibition match, Caroline Didden swept Elizabeth Kennedy.
• Middlebury earned its 30th overall and fifth-consecutive victory over Bowdoin.

The Panthers move onto the semifinals, taking on #13/top-seeded Amherst on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. The Mammoths come off a 9-0 sweep of #20/eighth-seeded Bates in the quarterfinals.