Amherst, MA — The last time Amherst finished in the top 8 was the 1997-1998 season, when the Jeffs tied Bowdoin and Williams for 8th in the nation. But if Amherst meets the goal set by new head coach Peter Robson, they’ll be back in the A Division competing for the Howe Cup.
The Jeffs have been improving over the past few seasons, and their 13th-place finish at the 2009-2010 Women’s National Team Championships (Howe Cup) was their best in five years. All of the players from last year’s championship roster will be back, including 2nd-Team All-NESCAC selection Hayley Milbourn and 2009-2010 captain Allie Dalglish, who will lead the squad again with fellow senior Mimi Bell.
Additionally, the Jeffs will be getting two first-year players who should make an impact on the ladder. St. Paul’s alum Evelyn Kramer is expected to play somewhere in the top 5, and Helen Rice of the Springside School is likely to play in the bottom 3.
The biggest change in the program is at the very top, as Robson is taking over for Tom Carmean as head coach. Robson will continue to coach the men’s team, and his familiarity with the women’s program should make for a smooth transition.
Amherst was host this summer to the Power Squash Academy, where Jonathon Power, Ian Power, Robson, and the other pros put on an entertaining exhibition for the local squash community.
2009-2010 SEASON RECAP
Season Record: 12-7
Final Ranking: 13
Team Championships: 13th Overall; 5th in Kurtz Cup (B Division)
2010-2011 SEASON PREVIEW
Program Status: Varsity
Head Coach: Peter Robson (Succeeds Tom Carmean)
Returning Players from Team Championships: Mimi Bell (8); Allie Dalglish (3); Caitlin Demkin (7); Chandler Lusardi (2); MK McNeill (9); Hayley Milbourn (1; 2nd Team All-NESCAC;); Sarah Nyirjesy (10); Anne Piper (6); Kate Savage (4); Anna Scheidt (5)
Graduates on Last Season’s Team Championships Roster: None
Additions to the 2010-2011 Roster:
- Expected to play in the top 5: Evelyn Kramer
- Expected to play in the bottom 3: Helen Rice
Captains: Allie Dalglish and Mimi Bell
Team Goals: Reach the top 8
Key Matches: Williams, Brown, Dartmouth, Mt Holyoke, Bates, Bowdoin, and Cornell
To read other team previews, please visit the 2010 – 2011 College Squash Preview Page.
