Cambridge, MA — The 2015 Women’s College Squash Association National Team Championships had great team and individual performances. In this special edition of the [hpow], we recognize a player from each division of the tournament.
Howe Cup (A Division) – Michelle Gemmell (Harvard University): Gemmell, a junior, clinched the Howe Cup and the National Team Championship for Harvard. Playing at the #4 position, she defeated Trinity’s Julia Le Coq in four games (11-9, 11-3, 11-13, and 13-11). Gemmell also defeated George Washington’s Mehak Chawla in the quarterfinals and Princeton’s Alexandra Lunt in the semifinals.
Kurtz Cup (B Division) – Alexandra Huchro (Stanford University): Huchro, a senior captain for the Cardinal, recorded a 5-game victory in the semifinal against Brown’s Mina Shakarshy (11-4, 10-12, 11-9, 2-11, and 12-10) to help Stanford advance to face Dartmouth in the Kurtz Cup final. Huchro earned a victory over Helena Darling to assist Stanford in winning their first Kurtz Cup crown.
Walker Cup (C Division) – Haley McAtee (Amherst College): Amherst entered the Walker Cup with the pressure of being its defending champion. McAtee, a first-year student, helped the Jeffs march through the division and record their second consecutive Walker Cup championship. Playing at the #3 position, she defeated Wellesley’s Meera Nayar in the quarterfinal and Colby’s Mikaela Johnson in the semifinal. Against Bowdoin in the title match, McAtee won in five games over Virginia Ross (11-5, 9-11, 11-9, 8-11, and 11-8).
Epps Cup (D Division) – Paige Dahlman (Tufts University): Dahlman, a senior captain, led Tufts to their first Epps Cup title. Dahlman went 11-7 on the season, including three victories at team championships. In the quarterfinal, she defeated Haverford’s Bethany Simmonds, in the semifinal she defeated Conn College’s Leah Puklin, and in the final she defeated William Smith’s Allison Rubin.
E Division – Casey Merbler (Dickinson College): In Dickinson’s first season of varsity collegiate squash, senior Casey Merbler made the most of her debut and final season. Playing at the #2 position, she helped the Red Devils bring home the E Division crown. Merbler went 3-0 at the tournament, with victories over Colgate’s Olivia Taylor, Washington in St. Louis’ Paige Landau, and Northwestern’s Marisa Bhargava.
F Division – Katherine Gianni (Boston University): In Boston University’s tournament debut, Gianni, the Terriers’ number 9, went 3-0. Against NYU, Gianni defeated Michele Wanaina in five games (7-11, 11-8, 11-5, 9-11, and 11-1). She also earned victories against Minnesota and Northeastern.
