Ellie Israelov ’25 has been dedicated to the sport since she first picked up a racket at age nine, transforming a casual suggestion from her dad into co-captaining the Girls Squash team. After attending a squash camp with her sister, Israelov quickly developed a passion for the game, drawn to both its physical demands and mental challenges. Now, she leads the team with dedication, focusing on building an encouraging environment and team camaraderie.
For Israelov, a comeback is always possible, but it takes mental toughness. The psychological aspect of squash is what drew her to the sport most, and has remained a key focus in her approach to the game.
“One of my favorite things about squash, or what got me interested in it, is that the mental game is a big part of it. Especially being here, it is an individual but team sport. You kind of have to show up for yourself every time and I’m sure they say this in a lot of sports but something that I’ve always had to tell myself or my parents have told me is that the game’s never over until it’s over. You can come back even if it’s 10-love or 10-1 or 10-2, something like that. But you can’t do that unless your mental game is good,” said Israelov.
Inspired by her Junior year’s captain, Israelov has striven to bring high energy and a supportive atmosphere to the team alongside Co-Captain Migyu Kim ’25. Together, they have organized team bonding activities, including team meals and a joint gathering with the Boys Squash team.
“A big thing for me, coming onto the team freshman year was my captain who was really high spirited. And so, being a captain, it’s really important to me to build the team spirit and build camaraderie throughout the team. So, Migyu and I have worked together to plan team dinners and team brunches. And we even did a boys and girls team party where we got pizza and played White Elephant. The team aspect is one of my favorite parts about playing squash here,” said Israelov.
According to Evelyn Kung ’26, Israelov brings an encouraging and energetic presence to the team, always motivating her teammates during matches. As Israelov’s pair partner, Kung noted her enthusiasm and coaching, both unique to her.
“Ellie is one of the most supportive people I’ve ever met. As soon as she finishes her match, she always runs over to watch all of our other teammates. She cheers super loudly for all of us and I’m her pair partner so we ref each other’s matches and coach each other and she’s so supportive… As you go down the ladder, the person either in front of you or in back of you is your person for the match, so basically from the top eight the odds will play first, number one three five, and seven will play first and number two four six and eight will ref their match, so Ellie and I are a pair for that. So when I play she’s sitting outside reffing and then in between games in squash you can get coached by your teammates so she usually coaches me and refs me throughout my match and I do the same for her… She always gives the best advice and she always keeps a really positive attitude throughout all the matches,” said Kung.
Selene Xu ’27 appreciates Israelov’s easygoing and approachable nature, describing her as both a supportive leader and a great teammate. Beyond her friendly personality, Xu also admires Israelov’s strong work ethic and dedication, both in practice and during matches.
“She’s a chill captain. She’s a great friend of the whole team. She makes jokes and she’s really fun to talk with. She encourages players a lot and I enjoy being in practice with her every day… She’s definitely very hardworking. She is always dedicated to the sport and always tries her best in games. She’s mentally tough and she can come back even when she’s down a couple of points and I really admire her for that,” said Xu.
With High School (Nationals) less than two weeks away, Israelov hopes the team can continue building on its successful season. While she is confident in their ability to compete at a high level, she emphasizes the importance of team chemistry and maintaining a supportive, enriching group dynamic.
“I’m really excited for Nationals and New England[s Interscholastic Squash Association]. Our team has been working really hard all season with training and everything. We’re all excited because we’re going to do really well. So my goal would obviously be for us to place well in Nationals and New Englands but also seeing us play well together and as a team and watching us coach each other is always really rewarding. In Nationals you can really see the team spirit shine through,” said Israelov.
Beyond Andover, Israelov plans to keep squash throughout her life, whether by playing on a club team in college or simply as a way to stay active and connected with friends.
“I would like to continue to play squash wherever I end up, hopefully on a club team or something. But even if I go somewhere where that’s not possible, I’d like to just continue playing by myself or with my friends for fun,” said Israelov.
