Women’s Squash: Ups & Downs

Halfway through a jam-packed Winter Term, the women’s squash team is pushing through its season with full force. The Panthers had their last home game of the month this past Thursday against Hamilton, where they swept the team with a 9-0 score, picking up their sixth consecutive win. The 15th-ranked Panthers hit the road to compete against 10th-ranked Brown, in which they faced a devastating loss of 9-0. 

In the victory against the Continentals, the Panthers didn’t surrender a single game. Natasha Lowitt ’20 tallied Middlebury’s first point with a win at number six (11-3, 11-3, 11-4) over Eleanor Struthers. Maren Taylor ’21 followed close behind, posting a victory at number nine (11-4, 11-7, 11-6). Clinching the match for the Panthers, Victoria Villalba ’19 closed it out with an 11-5, 11-0, 14-12 win over Maddie Sakheim at number eight. 

First-year Ideal Dowling continued her fantastic season by dominating at No. 2 with a 1-2, 11-0, 11-1 win over Megan Grip. With seven wins and three losses under her belt, Dowling is a force to be reckoned with. Consistently showing strong performances during her first season, she is a player to keep an eye on. 

Making their way to Cambridge, the Panthers fell to No. 10 Brown with a score of 9-0 in a match played inside Harvard’s Murr Center. In Saturday’s setback, Natalie Madden ’21 earned a game in her match at number six, while Gwen Davis ’22 won two games at number eight. 

This weekend, the Panthers will hit the road as they compete against Dickinson, Virginia, and Franklin & Marshall. Following their busy weekend, the team will have nearly two weeks off to gear up for the NESCAC Championships at Trinity starting Friday, Feb. 8.