Andover Girls Squash huddles at Andover/Exeter.
Andover – 7 Exeter – 0
Andover – 7 St. Pauls – 0
Having lost its first game last week to Tabor Academy (Tabor), Girls Squash (7-1) bounced back with consecutive sweeps over Phillips Exeter Academy (Exeter) and St. Paul’s. The team’s strong connection on and off the court fueled this flawless week to revive its win streak. Now the team looks to work hard in practice to keep improving and finish the season strong.
Throughout a successful winter season, the team has built a fun and supportive environment where teammates push each other to improve daily. Robin Lukens ’28 emphasized how the team’s bond has made practices and games more enjoyable.
Lukens said, “The squash season so far has been really fun. All the girls on the team have had a lot of fun, and for me, it has also been a great start to high school squash. We have also had a pretty good dynamic from the start. All the girls on the team get along pretty well. The team has a really good bond, we have a lot of fun together that in turn makes practice and playing much more enjoyable.”
Furthermore, the team has strengthened its bond through joint activities with the Boys Squash team. The teams often hold meals together on game days to build camaraderie.
“We build this bond by having events with both the girls varsity team and in collaboration with the boys team. We had a gift exchange last week. It was white elephant, and that was fun. We had a pizza party, and we’ve had a lot of team brunches or team lunches before our weekend games, or sometimes team dinners. This is always fun for us because it helps us connect with the team more,” said Lukens.
Minnie Kim ’27 emphasized that the team is driven by the desire to win. Understanding how Andover was favored in these matchups, it played with determination and aggression.
“Going in we were a little nervous, we knew we were better than the other team, but we just wanted to win so badly. So going in, we were super aggressive, super strong, and it showed in the scores and how well we played,” said Kim.
As Andover had not beaten St. Paul’s in many years, Kim also attributed the team’s focus in practice for its success. She was especially proud that its preparation was reflected in the final score.
“This match was amazing. We played St. Paul’s and this was the first time beating them in five or ten years. It was really great and just goes to show that through training and practice we can get better and beat people we have never beaten before,” said Kim.
To prepare for the week’s matches, the team practiced “tin-touches” to improve its endurance on the court. Though exhausting, Lukens highlighted the long-term benefits of the drill. The team also prioritizes stretching after practice to prevent injuries.
“We did a ton of tin-touches. This is basically when you run from the T (center) to the tin. We do it around ten times, and then do three reps of it. It is kind of grueling, but it builds good character and good strength. We train together and do a lot of fitness together, we stretch every day to make sure we avoid injuries. Overall, we generally help each other to be a better team by pushing each other bit by bit every day,” said Lukens.
Kim also emphasized the team’s commitment to maintaining a focused mindset in every practice. Even on difficult days, its effort and determination make each session productive and fun.
“Every time we come into practice, we are all ready to work super hard and we all want to go out there and try our best and have fun. Everyone comes into practice super focused and ready to play. So, it’s a super focused space and even if we’re all tired and mentally drained, it’s still good practice,” said Kim.
Girls Squash will play its next game away at Groton on Friday.
