After a difficult campaign, the women’s squash team closed last season with a second place finish in the Division C Walker Cup, still in possession of its starting rank of 18th in the nation. Highlights from the season included the Jeffs blanking Tufts University in the NESCAC Tournament opener, Wesleyan University in the Little Threes and Connecticut College in the Walker Cup; they also upset 12th-ranked Colby College and blanked Wellesley College in the Amherst Invitational. After shutting out Connecticut College in the first match of the national tournament, the Jeffs defeated Franklin & Marshall College, 8-1. In the championship match, however, Amherst lost to the Williams-Smith Herons 5-4, after a series of close five-game match defeats.
The team starts off the winter season with high expectations and specific goals. In the NESCAC, the Jeffs look to maintain their lead over Wesleyan, Conn. and Tufts, while working toward defeating closely-ranked opponents Middlebury, Hamilton and Colby Colleges. On the heels of their strong performance in the Walker Cup, the Jeffs aim to finish this season with the Division C title.
Despite graduating five strong players (Caroline Shannon, Emily O’Brien, Sarah Harper, Abby Mantica and Emory Sweeney), the team’s outlook for the season is optimistic. Three talented first-year recruits and four walk-ons join the team under the leadership of senior co-captains Libby Martin and Di Kirkwood. The two captains were instrumental in upsetting 12th-ranked Colby at the 2007 Amherst Invitational. Last season, Martin made key contributions from the third spot of the lineup, while Kirkwood secured several wins from the sixth spot. “The captains should help us tremendously,” said junior Laurel LaMontagne. “We’re looking to have a wonderful season.”
Melissa Moulton ’08, LaMontagne and Hannah Merves ’10 will start the year ready to contribute again, having held the last three spots in lineup last season. After a one-year hiatus, Moriah Donelan ’08 also returns to the courts, joined by walk-ons Rives Kitchell ’08, Maddie Tamagni ’09, Amelia Bell ’11 and Marion Read ’11. “We are very lucky [to have] the large number of promising walk-ons,” said Martin.
The three first-year recruits—Ali Dalglish, Caitlin Demkin and Hayley Milbourn—show great promise entering their first season with the Jeffs. Within the U.S. Squash Racquets Association’s Under-19 Division, Milbourn finished the 2005-06 season ranked 22nd, while Dalgish and Demkin finished the 2006-07 season in 35th and 46th place, respectively. The combination of solid senior leadership, talented first-years and significant squad depth should spell a thrilling and successful season for the Jeffs. “As a captain and senior, I am very excited to share my last season with new talent,” said Martin. “I predict a very strong team finish considering the high skill level and competitive drive of the three recruits.”