PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (February 17, 2023) – After a three-year wait, the No. 24 Denison University women's squash team is participating in the College Squash Association National Collegiate Women's Team Championship for the first time in its history. In the Walker Cup division, the Big Red were seeded eighth and were matched up against top-seeded and No. 17-ranked Middlebury College, which defeated Denison by a final score of 8-1 to advance to the semifinals and send the Big Red to the consolation bracket.
Friday's quarterfinal match marked the first meeting between Middlebury and Denison as freshman
Maria Clara Ramirez improved to 12-3 on the season. After falling 11-8 in the opening set, Ramirez earned a decisive 11-2 win in the second set before pulling out a gutsy 14-12 win in the third set. Then after falling 11-6 in the fourth set, Ramirez found herself in an 8-8 tie in the fifth set before scoring the final three points to earn the five-set victory.
After dealing with COVID-19 in 2020-21 and having their trip to nationals canceled in 2021-22 due to a snowstorm in the Northeast, the Big Red are finally getting their opportunity to compete on the national stage. Denison will return for the second day of CSA Nationals to take on No. 20 Colby College, which is seeded fourth in the bracket but fell 5-4 against fifth-seeded and No. 21-ranked Wesleyan University in its opening round matchup. The Big Red and the Mules will take to the courts at the University of Pennsylvania's Squash Center at 9 a.m. on Saturday, February 18.
Denison 1, Middlebury 8:
S1:
Maria Clara Ramirez def. Lindsey Burnham 3-2 (8-11, 11-2, 14-12, 6-11, 11-8).
S2: Abby Holding def.
Antoinette Ramsey 3-0 (11-8, 11-4, 11-5)
S3: Isabella Ronda def.
Lane Harding 3-0 (11-8, 11-7, 11-5)
S4: Margaux Comai def.
Coco Ogden 3-0 (11-4, 11-1, 11-4)
S5: Eva Finney def.
Charlotte Sigg 3-0 (11-1, 11-1, 11-3)
S6: Caroline Arena def.
Kate Manderlink 3-0 (11-3, 11-6, 11-4)
S7: Maya Bardorf def.
Hannah Best 3-0 (11-3, 11-2, 11-5)
S8: Abbie Peterson def.
Natalie Stanchina 3-0 (11-7, 11-7, 11-3)
S9: Grace Santoro def.
Jaz'mene Little 3-0 (11-3, 11-4, 11-1)
