LEWISTON, Maine -- The top-seeded Bates College men's squash team won the Conroy Division of the National Intercollegiate Squash Racquets Association (NISRA) team tournament held Feb. 20-22 at Princeton University.

The Conroy Division includes the fourth-tier NISRA teams. Other teams in the bracket are California-Berkeley, Connecticut College, Hamilton College, Haverford College, Northwestern University, Penn State and Tufts University.

In the first round, Bates won a 9-0 walkover against Penn State. In the second round, the Bobcats defeated California-Berkeley, 6-3, despite losses by the top three Bates players, marking the first time all season Bates' four through nine positions all won their matches. Leading the way at No. 4 was senior co-captain Sandy Weymouth of Hingham, Mass., who rallied from two games down to win 11-15, 8-15, 15-11, 15-11, 15-7. Also winning a five-game match was sophomore Matt Epstein of Philadelphia, Pa., who won 15-13, 14-17, 15-8, 14- 16, 15-11, at No. 9.

"California was a tough team," Bates head coach Paul Gastonguay '89 said. "Playing fewer teams on the West Coast, they don't have as long a season, but they are very talented. It was important for our lower seeds to play well, and they did."

In the championship match, Bates defeated Haverford, 8-1. Five Bobcat wins in that match were in three games. Senior co-captain Jamie Reiner of Las Vegas, Nev., played well at No. 2, winning 15-8, 15-7, 15-10.

"This was a great team effort," said Gastonguay. "We played a tough schedule this season, and those losses put us in a lower bracket than we were looking at starting the season. The guys really came together at the right time."

NATIONAL INTERCOLLEGIATE SQUASH RACQUETS ASSOCIATION TEAM TOURNAMENT

CONROY DIVISION MATCH RESULTS

        Bates 9         Penn State 0    W       Scores
1       Sean Doherty    C Antzoulis     B       DEFAULT
2       Jamie Reiner    Nathan Vink     B       DEFAULT
3       Eric Sanders    Yesu Odriazola  B       DEFAULT
4       S Weymouth      Robert Gallo    B       DEFAULT
5       C Staullkamp    N Gildon        B       DEFAULT
6       Sam Judd        Steven Niven    B       DEFAULT
7       Mike Foster     G Dressel       B       DEFAULT
8       M Kaulbach      Simon Parsons   B       DEFAULT
9       Matt Epstein    U A Pervez      B       DEFAULT

        Bates 6         California 3    W       Scores
1       Sean Doherty    Luen Lien       C       13, (12), 4, 11
2       Jamie Reiner    Dennis Lee      C       6, 16, 7
3       Eric Sanders    Laith Mosely    C       17-14, 16, (12), 12
4       S Weymouth      Aaron Katzman   B       (11),(8),11,11,7
5       C Staullkamp    Rutton Patel    B       (17-15),4,5,12
6       Sam Judd        Paul Torelli    B       5,9,(13),11
7       Mike Foster     Rishi Das       B       (12),12,4,7
8       M Kaulbach      Eugene Sun      B       (10),12,4,7
9       Matt Epstein    Ali Samee       B       13,(17-14),8,(16),11

        Finals                  
        Bates 8         Haverford 1     W       Scores
1       Sean Doherty    Saint           B       8,(6),13,10
2       Jamie Reiner    Callard         B       8, 7, 10
3       Eric Sanders    Larson          B       12, 9, 6
4       S Weymouth      Heacock         B       5, 11, 7
5       C Staullkamp    Wassner         B       (12),10,9,9
6       Sam Judd        Fishkin         B       5, 12, 14
7       Mike Foster     Bernard         B       9, 13, 10
8       M Kaulbach      Haas            B       1O,(13),(10),8,ret
9       Matt Epstein    Khan            H       10,17-14,(16),6