2016-17 Squash Year In Review

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The Mount Holyoke squash team, led by fifth-year head coach Erin Robson, went 9-17 during the 2016-17 campaign. Despite a slow start, the Lyons ended the season on a high note. Not only did MHC win six out of its last seven matches, but it placed third in the Epps Cup (D Division) of the CSA Squash Championships, while sophomore Nadindhi Udangawa went on to win the consolation finals of the CSA Individual National Championships.

After opening up the season with a loss to Vassar, Mount Holyoke bounced back with two, 9-0 wins over Fordham and Smith College in early November. Against Fordham, The Lyons won each match by a 3-0 margin, including senior Brandy Williamson, who gave up just five points. Against the Pioneers in the following match, Kirina Gair-MacMichael gave up only four points.

Mount Holyoke hit a bump in the road through January, but got back on track with a huge month in February, winning six matches, including a Seven Sisters Championship victory. On February 11th, the Lyons opened up Seven Sisters with a 9-0 win over Smith for the second time this season.

MHC continued on to defeat Wellesley by an 8-1 margin, which marked the first victory over the Blue since the 2013-14 season. Mount Holyoke finished the championship with an 8-1 win over Vassar who beat the Lyons earlier in the year.

Momentum continued into the next weekend as the Lyons defeated Connecticut College in a match that came down to senior captain Allison Shilling winning a marathon of a match (11-13, 11-9, 12-10, 11-7) to pick up a 5-4 win for MHC.

The Lyons then competed in the Epps Cup (D Division) at the CSA Team Championships during the final weekend of the month. MHC picked up a 7-2 victory to beat Vassar for the second time in less than two weeks, to advance to the semifinals and culminate a five-match win streak. MHC fell to Colby in the semis, but had several close matches.

Mount Holyoke ended the regular season with its second victory over Wellesley, 7-2 to secure a third place finish in the Epps Cup.

Udangawa was chosen to compete in the Holleran South Division at CSA Individual National Championships in March. She battled in the opening game, but fell 3-0. In the consolation semi-finals, Undagawa grinded out a 3-2 win to advance to the finals where she had an excellent performance, picking up a 3-1 win to secure the Consolation Championship. Udangawa ended the season with a team-best, 10-1 record.