New York, NY — Columbia lost a third of its starting line-up from the 2016 Women’s College Squash Association National Team Championships. Yet the Lions are prepared to retain their spot in the Howe Cup (A Division). They have a number first-year players joining the roster, and they are all are expected to compete for positions in the starting line-up. According to assistant coach Joanne Schickerling, “Columbia is very excited to welcome seven fresh faces to the team and we look forward to a great season. The team is also really excited to continue our partnership with Harlem’s StreetSquash. Over the years the team has volunteered weekly to tutor the program’s students, with whom we have created great relationships.” The squad will have tri-captains: Colette Sultana, Maya Patel, and Tanvi Khanna. Sultana has been the national squash champion of her native Malta for the past five years. With many teams clamoring for positions in the lower half of the Howe Cup, Columbia needs to improve their win percentages, especially of the lower 3, this season to remain in the hunt for a spot in the A Division.
2015-2016 SEASON RECAP
Season Record: 6-9
Final Ranking: 8
Team Championships: 8th in the Howe Cup (A Division)
By the Numbers (From US Squash): 5-4 Matches Won: 1 of 1… Top 3 Win%: .422… Middle 3 Win%: .422… Lower 3 Win%: .300…
2016-2017 SEASON PREVIEW
Program Status: Varsity
Head Coach: Jacques Swanepoel
Returning Players from Team Championships: 1. Tanvi Khanna (2018 – All-Ivy League Team; Second Team All-American); 2. Madlen O’Connor (2019); 4. Colette Sultana (2017 – CSA Scholar Athlete); 6. Maya Patel (2017); 8. Addie Fulton (2018); 9. Diana Masch (2019); 10. Adele Berhard (2018);
Graduated/Non-Returning Players from Team Championships: 3. Reyna Pacheco (2016); 5. Catherine Jenkins (2016 – CSA Scholar Athlete); 7. Leah Barnet (2016);
Additions to the 2016-2017 Roster:
- Tara Dugel (Paradise Valley (AZ)
- Olivia Horwitz (The Baldwin School, PA)
- Jui Kalgutkar (Ramnivas Ruia Junior College, Mumbai, India)
- Pierson Klein (The Westminster School, GA)
- Amaya Kothari (Vasant Valley School, New Delhi, India)
- Gabi Martin (Wilbur Cross High School, CT)
Captains: Colette Sultana, Maya Patel, and Tanvi Khanna
Team Goals: Return to the Howe Cup and continue to be a competitive team in the top 8
Key Matches: All matches
To read other team previews, please visit the 2016-2017 College Squash Season Previews page.
