The Hamilton College women's squash team has a 3-3 record and is 19th in the most recent College Squash Association (CSA) rankings as the 2015-16 season is still in its early stages. Rachel Newman '16 and Lindsay Arader '16 are positioned at the top of the lineup, and Ann Pooley '16 rounds out the senior class. All three are team captains. The program is guided by two-time NESCAC women's squash coach of the year Jamie King.
Newman made the NESCAC all-conference team after she posted a 17-5 record last season, including 15-3 at the second position. She has participated in each of the last two CSA Individual National Championships and advanced to the semifinals of the first round consolation bracket in 2015. Newman has won 36 matches in just her third season with the team after she transferred to Hamilton from William Smith College in 2013.
The Continentals ended up with a 14-8 record last season and took third place in the Walker Cup (C Division) at the 2015 National Team Championships. The 14 wins were the most since the 2009-10 team finished with 15 victories. Hamilton split four matches and placed sixth at the 2015 NESCAC Women's Squash Championship.
The women's squash program received the Chaffee Award for the first time in 2011. The award is given annually to a coach whose team has demonstrated the qualities of sportsmanship, teamwork, character and improvement.
Arader won 11 matches at the fourth and fifth positions last winter. Rafiatou Ouro-Aguy '18 enjoyed a fine first year with a 15-6 record at the sixth position. Grace Munschauer '18 and Marina Hartnick '18 were impressive as rookies last season as well. Munschauer was 9-4 at the eighth position and Hartnick was 8-4 at the ninth position.
The Continentals' lineup received a boost from the return of Lillie Simourian '17, who missed all of last season due to injury. Charlotte Zonis '19 has already cracked the top nine and the program will receive more help in January when Megan Grip '19 makes her debut. Katherine Bauer '18, Jean Beecher '19, Natalie Burkardt '18, Molly Pivirotto '18, Pooley, Alex Regan '17, Danielle Reisley '18 and Perry Von Stade '17 are competing for the remaining two spots in the lineup.
Elizabeth Morris '15, Isabelle Weisman '15 and three-time NESCAC all-conference selection Hilary Gray '15 wrapped up distinguished playing careers last season. All three are on the team's all-time top ten list for career wins, including Weisman, who is second with 50.
The rest of the 2015-16 schedule features seven NESCAC opponents and a match against Yale University at Amherst College on Jan. 15. The women host William Smith on Feb. 3 and Bates College on Feb. 14 at the Little Squash Center. Hamilton travels to Trinity College for the NESCAC Championship in early February, and the CSA Individual National Championships will be held at Chelsea Piers Athletic Club in early March.
