Isabella Tang ’28 prepares to return the ball.
In a hard-fought battle, the previously undefeated Girls Squash (5-1) faced Tabor Academy (Tabor) on Wednesday, ultimately falling short with a 3-4 result. The bottom seeds emerged victorious, while the top seeds encountered tough opponents, demonstrating a balance of talent across the whole team.
The team went into its match against Tabor, following five straight wins, including first place in the Groton Squash Tournament. Prisha Shivani ’26 recalled the team’s pre-game rituals that helped relieve stress.
“We do this thing where we go around in a circle in an alley, or before this specific match, we did jumping jacks in the supply room. It helps us loosen up and get rid of any tension before stepping onto the court. It’s a small routine, but it really helps set the right mindset before competing. We count backwards starting with ten, and we gradually get louder. It’s something that helps us focus and build up intensity before the match,” said Shivani.
With Tabor being historically one of the stronger teams Girls Squash faces in its league, according to Robin Lukens ’28, the team prepared thoroughly for the match with an emphasis on well-being.
Lukens said, “There was a big focus on staying healthy heading into this match. We had a light day in terms of fitness yesterday just to make sure we were not too sore or injured heading into the match today. Also there was an emphasis on getting enough sleep, since there is a lot of sickness going around campus.”
Shivani highlighted how Girls Squash Head Coach, Shaun Duffy, shared words of encouragement throughout practices and the game. This helped Shivani and the team remain calm and collected.
“Our coach reminded us not to feel pressured but told us that we had to work our best throughout practices. Tabor’s a tough group to beat, so we had to focus on playing smart and giving maximum effort. The message was clear — don’t let the opponent dictate the game, stay in control, and leave everything on the court,” said Shivani.
Despite their preparations, seeds 1-4 all fell to Tabor in their matches. Co-Captain Migyu Kim ’25 commented on how she believes the team will respond after this loss moving forward.
“It’s obviously pretty tough to lose any match, but it was also a bonding experience. It’s a great reminder how every player plays a part in team results, and they can affect it no matter their place on the ladder,” said Kim.
Even in the team’s loss, there were many standout moments for members of the team. Lukens pointed out her own win along with wins from Rachel Levitzky ’28 and Isabella Tang ’28, as a note of perseverance in the competitive environment.
Lukens said, “Today still had some good matches. There were a lot of girls from my dorm who showed up. Me and Rachel Levitzky, who is the seed below me, reffed each other, and we both won, so I would say that was pretty satisfying… I would say Isabella was a standout player. She’s had some very close games today, and she’s also playing on a really high level and really competitively.”
With seven regular season games left in its season, the team is determined to bounce back from this loss, hoping to seize the opportunity against Exeter (1-2) on Saturday. Ultimately, each game has a large impact on how the season will pan out, specifically on the team’s chance at Nationals, which takes place February 21 through February 23.
Lukens said, “Each time we play we are trying to win our league. Right now, we are playing around two matches per week against other boarding schools. If we win those, it affects our seeding for nationals, which is in February. The higher your seed is, the easier matches you play at first, so we are trying to raise our seed leading up to that tournament.”
Girls Squash will play Exeter at home on Saturday and St. Paul’s away on Wednesday.
Editor’s Note: Prisha Shivani is an Associate News Editor for The Phillipian.
