Going into the final three matches, the score was tied 3-3, with senior No 4. June Tiong, sophomore No 7. Sarah Mumanachit, and last year’s national champion, sophomore No.1 Laura Gemmell, still left to play for Harvard.

Because of her consistent strategic ball placement right over the lower red line, Gemmell easily took care of Yale’s Logan Greer, 3-0, giving the Crimson a 4-3 lead. The sophomore has yet to lose a match in her collegiate career.

Tiong fought hard in the first set of the match but still lost, 11-9. She recuperated quickly and jumped out to a 5-0 lead, only to fall 12-10 in the second set and 11-3 in the third.

“June played someone with very good hands, and it’s hard when someone is on a roll,” said Mashruwala.

Simultaneously, Harvard’s Mumanachit was having a battle against the Bulldogs’ Caroline Reigeluth.

The closest match of the day became responsible for determining the Ivy League champion.

Mumanachit won the first game, 11-6, then lost the next two by scores of 11-7, 11-6, respectively.

The sophomore came roaring back to settle the score at 2-2 with one game left to play. Though down early in the final set, 10-4, she made it close, tallying three unanswered points. But in the end, her efforts fell short, as she dived across the floor and missed the final shot to give Yale the victory.

“Just watching June and Sarah, I know they felt pressure to win,” Gemmell said of the day’s final two bouts. “I was really proud of the way they played.”

“Sarah is one of our most consistent players, [and] I give her a lot of credit,” added Mashruwala. “She has a lot of courage, and tried her best and played her heart out.”

But in the end, a loss is a loss.

“I mean it’s upsetting of course, that we weren’t able to pull out a win,” Mashruwala said. “But everyone played with all of their hearts, and that’s what is most important. Win or lose, they did an amazing job.”