The University of Toronto Varsity Blues women’s squash team went 1-1 and earned their 12th consecutive playoff berth as they hosted the OUA crossover this weekend (Jan. 16-17) at the Athletic Centre Sports Gym.

Toronto started off the weekend with a 4-2 victory over the McGill Martlets in a match that ultimately decided who would make the playoffs.

The Blues had a default at the number six position and both Daniah Shamim (Oshawa, Ont.) and Rebecca Tristan Aldave (San Luis Potosi, Mexico) made short work of their opponents in the number four and five positions, respectively, to give the Blues an early 3-0 lead.

In the number three game, veteran Shuhsien Zhu (Toronto) ensured that U of T would reach their 12th consecutive playoff with a narrow 3-2 victory over McGill’s Annabel Tory.

The match went back and forth with both players in the ascendancy, however, Zhu hung on to take the fifth game 11-9 to secure the victory and playoff spot.

Notably, Cami Marmoush of Cairo, Egypt played a very close game with McGill’s Nora Hutchinson in the number two position, with both the opening games going to extra points to decide the outcome. Marmoush just missed out in the fifth, falling 11-9.

The Blues went into their Sunday game against the first-place Queen’s Gaels and all but Shamim failed to win a game.

Shamim’s match in the number four position assumed greater importance as it became clear that the Blues needed to win this match to take third-place positioning from the McMaster Marauders. The third-year life science major got out to an early 2-0 lead, however Queen’s Caitlin Klein levelled the match at 2-2.

In a very exciting final game both Shamim and Klein served for the match but unfortunately Klein came away with the win.

The Varsity Blues finish the OUA regular season in fourth place, one point behind the McMaster Marauders.

Toronto will take on the Queen’s Gaels in OUA semi-final action on Saturday, February 13 at the University of Waterloo.

For more information, scores and highlights on your favourite Toronto teams, please visit the home of the Varsity Blues at http://www.varsityblues.ca.