CSA Team Rankings | Captains Video Interview
HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Haverford College women's squash team returns seven players from a squad that finished with the No. 30 overall ranking, the highest year-end rank in the College Squash Association (CSA) rankings for Haverford since the 2008-09 season. In addition, the Fords remain focused on improvement following the most wins in a single season since the 2014-15 squad. The Fords finished sixth in the Epps Cup (D Division) a season ago, and will look to compete for the D Division title in 2018-19.
The Fords lose the presence Isabelle Gotuaco, who graduates after tying the Haverford career wins' record with 38. Gotuaco also was the Haverford leader in wins a season ago. Olivia Franco and Grace Fioramonti-Gorchow also graduated after anchoring the Fords.
Co-captain Kaitlin Reese will look to continue to help lead the squad with experience at the top flight, notching a 6-6 record at No. 1 a season ago. Sophomore Maddie Hager saw valuable time at the second and third flights, proving to be a formidable player at the top rungs of the ladder in her first year campaign. Co-captain Sunny Chai, Stephanie Lukez, and Sophia Jackson all return after valuable experience on the ladder a season ago while Eva Tamkin and Hannah Adler will look to take another huge step forward after limited playing time in their first-year campaigns.
Newcomers to the squad include first years Isabelle Johnson (Mount Kisco, N.Y.), Shreya Singh (Dubai, United Arab Emirates), and Urgyen Wangmo (New York, N.Y.). The trio all has a wealth of prep school squash experience, and will provide depth and energy immediately.
Head Coach Niki Clement told the Collegiate Squash Association, "Our goal is for each player to strive for excellence in their game play and training, and to perform at their highest ability, physically and mentally. We will build on our improvement from last year as individual players and as a team."
The season will begin on Saturday, November 10 as the Fords head to the Navy Round Robin in Annapolis, Md. Haverford faces off with Boston University and Johns Hopkins on the campus of the United States Naval Academy. The Fords also host two early season home games with Swarthmore (November 14) and No. 31 Bard (December 8).
Other key matchups include the annual Pioneer Valley Invitational tournament in January (Jan. 18-20), a slate that includes matchups with No. 28 Mount Holyoke, No. 23 Colby, Bard, and No. 20 Wesleyan. The inaugural Centennial Conference duals include matchups with No. 21 Franklin & Marshall and either No. 18 Dickinson or Johns Hopkins on February 9.