HATFIELD, Mass. - The College Squash Association announced its 2016-17 Women's Scholar Athletes and three Mount Holyoke College student-athletes were recognized. The trio is among 54 honored across all CSA Women's Varsity teams.
This year's honorees from Mount Holyoke include senior captain Allison Shilling and juniors Emily Chang and Kirina Gair-MacMichael.
Shilling, who hails from New Canaan, Conn. (Choate Rosemary Hall), posted a 12-13 record during the 2016-17 campaign. She owned a 4-9 record from the third spot on the ladder and went 8-4 at four. Highlighting her season was a perfect 3-0 performance at the 2017 Seven Sisters Championship. During the event, which saw her garner All-Tournament Team honors, Shilling battled to 3-1 wins against opponents from #28 Wellesley and #27 Vassar to help MHC claim its first Seven Sisters title since 2013 and its ninth in program history.
A native of Carmichael, Calif. (Mira Loma), Chang went 7-8 on the season, including a 6-4 mark over her final 10 matches. She owned a 1-1 record from the fifth spot on the ladder, was 3-2 from six and carried a 3-4 mark at seven. Like Shilling, Change excelled at Seven Sisters, going 3-0. She also posted a 2-1 record at the CSA Team Championships, including an 11-5, 6-11, 11-4, 11-3 win at six over #27 Wellesley to help MHC finish third in the Epps Cup.
Gair-MacMichael, who is from West Hartford, Conn. (Ethel Walker School), was 4-9 during the past season. She was 1-0 at six, went 1-4 from eight and had a 2-5 mark at the ninth spot on the ladder. Highlighting her season was an 11-9, 11-4, 11-9 victory against #25 Colby during the regular season. She also helped the Lyons claim the Seven Sisters crown, winning at eight against Smith College.
As a team, the Lyons went 9-17 on the season, but flourished at the end, going on a 6-1 run. That span included their ninth Seven Sisters title and third overall in the Epps Cup (D Division) at the 2017 CSA Team Championships at Princeton. MHC shined individually as well, paced by sophomore Nadindhi Udangawa, who was the Holleran South Consolation Final Champion at the 2017 CSA Individual National Championships.
To qualify, the honoree must be a two-time varsity letterwinner at their institution, carry a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or above, be a junior or senior, have been at their institution for a full year prior, and have played a top-10 ladder position for the majority of scheduled CSA sanctioned matches during the season.
