Andover: 7, Tabor: 0
Girls Squash (6–0) delivered a dominant performance this Wednesday, sweeping Tabor 7–0, showcasing depth across the ladder and demonstrating disciplined preparation. Despite travel challenges and limited warm-up time, the team maintained control in each match to secure a clean victory.
According to Olivia Wang ’29, players relied on conditioning and strategy to close out matches efficiently. The match was also marked by intense pacing, as Wang recalled seeing only one other person compete.
“We did really well, even though we were only given five minutes to warm up because we got there late. We still performed really well and got a clean sweep. Our matches also went really fast. It was me and then Prisha [Shivani ’26]. She did a great job. She won 3–0,” said Wang.
In the days leading up to the match, the team placed a strong emphasis on fitness and intensity in practice. Judy Liu ’29 noted how conditioning was a central focus in preparation for competitive opponents.
“During our practices, we definitely worked harder. We would run sprints, do these ‘10-catch’ exercises, which are side-shuffle conditioning, and do an ab circle during stretching,” said Liu.
In addition to conditioning, the team emphasized composure and minimizing mistakes. According to Liu, this approach translated to steady play on match day.
“We were all working on staying calm under pressure and making sure not to make unforced errors, like on our serves. We really wanted to stay consistent, positive, and keep the plays mixed,” said Liu.
Throughout the season, practices have followed a consistent structure that balanced skill development, match experience, and conditioning. Isabella Tang ’28 described practices beyond lineup matches; regular drills and conditioning remained central to practice routines.
“We’ve been trying to work on hitting more accurately and maintaining our fitness. We’re strong this year, so we’re just trying to keep playing our best squash. Otherwise, we usually do drills, conditioned games, some ghosting, maybe some match play, and we cool down together. Sometimes, fitness is incorporated too, like a core circle or something similar,” said Tang.
In individual matches against Tabor, Wang emphasized adjusting strategies mid-game to capitalize on opponents’ weaknesses. Specifically, she noticed her opponent’s weakness and adapted to further capitalize on that shortcoming.
“When I was watching her hit, I noticed that her front game was weaker than her back game, so most of my points came from hitting to the front and playing drops. I’d say about 75% of my points came from drops,” said Wang.
The team will travel to face Holderness on Saturday.
