2008-2009 Women’s Squash Season Outlook

Williamstown, MA – After a successful last season, which ended with their ninth straight Little Three victory, a top ten ranking and the Kurtz Cup title, the Williams women’s squash team is ready for more. Having graduated three seniors, including number two Ashley Eyre, number four Catie Warner, and number eight Allie Rottkamp, the team is looking towards the middle of their ladder to be able to step up into the top spots.

Another challenge facing the team this fall is the absence of co-captain and number one Toby Eyre, who is studying abroad this semester. Her arrival, along with that of junior Julia Reiser in December, will complete the team in time for their matches in January against rivals Dartmouth, Brown, Stanford and Cornell—all of whom the team played close 5-4 decisions with last season.

Despite these absences, this season looks especially bright for Williams. The addition of five freshmen, as well as rigorous pre-season training, has the team looking in top form. Out of the five new players, Courtney Bogle, Carolyn Kaemmer, and Eliana Saltzman, come into their first season at Williams with junior squash experience and are expected to make an immediate impact in the lineup. The return of veteran players junior Jennifer Coxe, senior co-captain Arianna Kourides, senior co-captain Claire Hsu, and junior Caroline Henry, will add an enormous amount of familiarity and knowledge of the collegiate game, as well as the skill and athleticism needed to compete at the top of this highly competitive ladder.

“I am looking forward to this season,” said head coach Zafi Levy. “We have three very strong freshmen that already made a big impact on our program, the preseason training run by the seniors was fantastic. The team is in great shape and will look even better once Toby and Julia come back from abroad.”

The team’s goal this season is two-fold: to maintain their top ten ranking, and to climb back into the “Elite Eight” ranking necessary to compete in the Division ‘A’ Howe Cup at Nationals.

“I look forward to facing Dartmouth and reclaiming our rightful place in the A Division,” said Hsu. This goal is not far from the team’s reach, and if preseason training was any indication, all of the Ephs are eager to fulfill that end.

Williams will head to Boston next Sunday for their first matches of the season against Harvard and Tufts.