Andover Girls Squash finished in fifth place in its division at Nationals. The team played some of its best squash of the season and vastly improved over last year’s 13th place finish.
Over the course of last Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Andover competed in four matches against various opponents from across the nation. Captain Adele Bernhard ’14 said, “Nationals was a lot of fun and a lot of squash... It was a great win for us, and we have really come a long way compared to last year.”
Though Andover finished strong, the team scraped out some narrow wins and losses. One match ended in its favor 4-3, but the balance tipped the other way in another match, and the team lost 3-4.
In the Classic Plate final on Sunday, Andover won 4-3 and finished the weekend on a high note when it came in fifth. Andover’s new players greatly contributed to the team’s success.
Bernhard said, “Despite being on the road, everyone on the team really pulled through and gave each game 100 percent effort. It was great bonding with the team, whether it was early morning breakfasts or car rides in the rally wagon.”
Most of all, the tournament boosted team morale and drew the team closer together.
Bernhard said, “Our number five, Hannah Burns ’15, unfortunately got a concussion in the middle of her match Saturday morning. Despite this, however, she continued to cheer us on and support us throughout the weekend.”
With a renewed sense of unity, the team will play today at 4:30 against Milton Academy and next Wednesday against St. Paul’s at home.