The women’s squash team took fifth place at the NESCAC tournament this past weekend, capping off the competition with their 6-3 victory over No. 19 Tufts at Hamilton College. The Bobcats were seeded 6th entering the tournament and have placed fifth for the second time in the last three years.

“I expected the women to beat Middlebury in the quarterfinal but was proud of the way they regrouped to beat Wesleyan and Tufts, to ultimately finish fifth,” says Coach Patrick.

Captain Eliza Dunham ’20 defeated Tufts’ Sahana Karthik at the No. 4 position with ease at 3-0 (11-8, 11-7, 15-13). This win improved her personal score of the season to 12-1.

Luca Polgar ’20, who has played at the No. 1 position for two years in a row, picked up a win over Tufts’ Claire Davidson at 3-0 (11-8, 11-2, 11-7). This win also improves her personal score for this season to 12-5. Captain Vicky Arjoon ’19 had an exciting victory over the Jumbo’s Hannah Burns at a match of 3-1 (11-5, 9-11, 11-6, 11-9). This win also improved her personal record of the season to 13-3.

Kristyna Alexova ’19 from Boskovice, Czech Republic boosted her personal record to 10-3 after her win against Tufts’ Catherine Shanahan 3-0 (11-7, 11-7, 11-8).

Maeve O’Brien ’21 and Katie Manternach ’21 swept the courts at the No. 5 and 6 positions. They both have had a phenomenal season as first-year Bobcats. O’Brian improved her personal record to 13-4 with her 3-0 (11-5, 11-7, 11-7) win over the Jumbos’ Lauren Banner. Manternach improved her record to 13-4 as well with her 3-0 (11-7, 11-8, 11-5) win over Tufts’ Rachel Windreich.

Banner defeated Molly Brooks ’19 3-0 (11-4, 11-3, 11-3) at the No. 7 position. At the No. 8 position, Hannah Connor ’18 went to a five game match but unfortunately lost 10-12, 11-4, 11-0, 6-11, 11-7 over the Jumbo’s Sinclair Meggitt.

In a hard fought match, Katie Bull ’19 lost to Tuft’s Gabi Salomon 11-3, 11-5, 12-10 at the No. 9 position.

Through February 16-18, the Bobcats will be competing at the College Squash Association Team Nationals at Harvard University.

“Both teams have 3 more matches remaining at Nationals later this month and the women are still gaining momentum since the return of four starters from JSA so I think their best squash is yet to come. The men also have an incredible fighting spirit that will help them finish the season on a high note at Nationals,” says Coach Patrick.