Captain Ali Zindman ’07 led the Girls Varsity Squash team to a tenth place finish this past weekend at the National High School Championships in New Haven, Connecticut. The three-day tournament included teams from around the country and gave Andover a chance to prove its worth against some of the nation’s strongest squads. Andover competed in its first match competed against Penn Charter School of Philadelphia, the eventual third place team. Penn Charter’s depth proved too much to handle, as it took down Andover 6-1. “When we lose at [spots] six and seven, we know that the other team’s deep, because we usually win at those positions,” said Coach Tom Hodgson. Even though numbers six and seven lost for Andover, the team put forth an overall strong effort. Stephanie Marton ’07, playing in the sixth position, started well and lost the first game in a close 9-7 decision. Although she continued to pressure her opponent, she fell 9-4, 9-6 in the next two games. Though Julia Watson ’07 went down to her number seven opponent, she had the closest match among the Andover losses. Watson won the first two games 9-5, 9-3 but was unable to finish off her opponent and lost the next three games. Andover struggled particularly at numbers two through six, losing in three games at each position. Captain Zindman, playing number one, provided Andover’s only win of the match-up. Though Captain Zindman lost the first game 9-6, she rebounded for a four-game victory. She took advantage of her opponent’s poor court coverage and moved her to the corners, focusing on drop shots. After a 10-8 win in the second game, she cruised 9-1, 9-1 through the final two frames. The loss to Penn Charter sent Andover to the consolation bracket, where it squared off against the Agnes Irwin School of just outside Philadelphia. This match was a reversal of Andover’s first contest, as the team secured a 6-1 triumph. Andover pulled out four-game victories at spots two and seven and a five-game win at number five. There, Lauren Wilmarth ’09 served her way to the top in a 9-3 final game. Andover’s only loss came from Diana Willson ’07, who went down at number three in a hard-fought match. On Sunday, Andover took on the Bryn Mawr School of Baltimore. The team captured decisive wins all the way through the lineup and rolled to a 7-0 win. This victory sent Andover to the ninth-spot playoff game, where the team faced the Lawrenceville School of New Jersey. Known for its strong program, Lawrenceville lost in the first round in a surprise upset from Nobles. Lawrenceville sought to reestablish its authority with a win against Andover. Andover worked hard, but it was not up to the task of beating Lawrenceville. Andover lost across the board to determined Lawrenceville players in a 7-0 team defeat. Despite the shut-out, Andover fought in several competitive matches. Wilmarth, at number five, had one such contest. After losing the first two games 9-6, 9-2, she played a close third game and lost 10-9. Number one player Captain Zindman, who had won her first three matches of the tournament, lost to a capable opponent 9-1, 10-8, 9-6.
