Andover: 2; Hotchkiss: 5
Andover: 7; St. Paul’s: 0
Girls Squash (7–1) faced one of its toughest challenges of the season in a match away against Hotchkiss. Hotchkiss and Andover delivered competitive performances, with Andover falling 5–2 in a match defined by long rallies and a charged atmosphere. Despite its loss, Girls Squash dominated in a 7–0 victory against St. Paul’s.
Several matches came down to the wire, highlighting the lineup’s resilience. At the top of the ladder, Isabella Tang ’28 battled through a five-game match against Hotchkiss’ first-seeded player. After taking the first two games, Tang dropped the next two before regaining control in the fifth to secure the win.
“The beginning of the fifth game was important. It was even, so whoever took the fifth game would win the match. We were both kind of nervous, but I had a pretty strong lead in the beginning, and I used that momentum to win the match. There was a big Hotchkiss crowd, and everyone was rooting for the home team, and that added to the atmosphere of it,” said Tang.
Ava Kung ’29 described Tang’s game as the most intense moment of the match. Both Andover Boys Squash and Girls Squash athletes crowded around the glass court, cheering and offering words of encouragement between games.
Kung said, “Isabella’s game was the last match, so everyone was crowding around at once to watch the game. Whoever won the next game would win the match. It was really intense, but everyone from [Boys Squash and Girls Squash] was there watching and recording. In between games, we all went out and coached her. I thought that was really special.”
Judy Liu ’29 had a spectacular performance, winning a tight match that featured an extended game. Her composure in high-pressure moments reflected the team’s mental agility and strength.
Liu said, “I was down 10–7 in one game, but I fought back and won five straight points to take it 12–10. That was a very important match for me to show that I can compete with some of the best players in the nation.”
The environment at Hotchkiss, which featured a very energetic crowd, added another layer of difficulty among the team.
Tang said, “There were a lot of people in my match because I was the only one playing at that time, so the whole crowd was 50 or 60 people from Hotchkiss, and they were really energetic. For every point [my opponent] won, they were rooting really loudly, and I just tried to not let it get to me.”
While Andover came up short, the team’s effort was bolstered by strong leadership and sideline support. Kung emphasized the close-knit nature of the team.
“We’re all very tightly knit and get along really well. We have team dinners and bonding activities, which make us very cohesive and have a great team atmosphere. We’re friends outside of squash, too. We often have team dinners and team bonding exercises, which make us very cohesive as a team,” said Kung.
Despite its defeat against Hotchkiss, the team faced St. Paul’s, securing a comfortable 7-0 victory.
Girls Squash will host Groton today at 4:30 p.m.
