Palo Alto, CA — Stanford, the team with the most frequent flyer miles in the nation, is focused on returning to the Howe Cup (A Division) this season. After winning the Kurtz Cup (B Division) last season and only losing two top 9 players from Team Championship to graduation, this goal is within the Cardinal’s reach. They will need to contend with Cornell, Columbia, George Washington, Dartmouth, and Brown — the teams that finished above and below them last season — to accomplish their goal. With five incoming players and the return of their former #1 from a gap year, the squad appears stronger then last season. According to head coach Mark Talbott, “We are on the rise and we have incredible chemistry!” Talbott also mentioned that the team plans to “Go ghost hunting once again at Sleepy Hollow.” One of the Cardinal quad-captains, Abby Giannuzzi, will be back for her senior season. “Abby is one of those quiet seniors who leads by example and is a coach’s dream to have on the team. She consistently gives 100% and never complains. She will provide great senior leadership this season,” adds Talbott. Stanford will have renovated courts for the upcoming season, which will make their time between flights more enjoyable. Stanford is likely to be in the Howe Cup at the end of the season.
2014-2015 SEASON RECAP
Season Record: 7-9
Final Ranking: 9
Team Championships: 1st in the Kurtz Cup (B Division)
By the Numbers (From US Squash): 5-4 Matches Won: 1 of 3… Top 3 Win %: 0.5… Middle 3 Win %: 0.2917… Lower 3 Win %: 0.4167
2015-2016 SEASON PREVIEW
Program Status: Varsity
Head Coach: Mark Talbott
Returning Players from Team Championships: 1. Zandra Ho (2017); 2. Sarah Bell (2018); 3. Christina Huchro (2018); 5. Sarah Haig (2016); 6. Taty Dadabbo (2018); 7. Carolyn Gillette (2016); 9. Julia Olson (2017)
Graduated/Non-Returning Players from 2014-2015 Team Championships: 4. Ally Huchro (2015); 8. Ariel Posner (2015); 10. Alex Yorke (2015); 11. Teresa Shropshire (2015)
Additions to the 2015-2016 Roster:
- Expected to play in the top 3: Maddy Gill (returning from a gap year) and Tara Shannon
- Expected to play in the middle 3: Lucy Rowe and Greyson Melby
- Expected to play in the bottom 3: Anna Marie Manning and Caroline Kimmel
Captains: Maddy Gill, Sarah Haig, Carolyn Gillette, and Abby Giannuzzi
Team Goals: To make it back to the A Division.
Key Matches: Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, and George Washington
To read other team previews, please visit the 2015-2016 College Squash Season Previews page.
