CANTON, N.Y. (Feb. 9) — The Denison University women's squash team capped off an impressive run at the Liberty League Championship with a narrow 5-4 loss to St. Lawrence University in the championship match on Sunday. After a dominant first day that saw the Big Red secure convincing wins over Vassar College and William Smith College, Denison entered the final with strong momentum but ultimately fell just short in a tightly contested battle.

The Big Red had standout performances from Kate Manderlink, Virginia Lawrence, Lane Harding, and Maddie Ruggie, who all secured crucial wins to keep Denison in contention throughout the match.

At the No. 6 spot, Manderlink delivered a resilient performance, overcoming a second-game setback to defeat Khissaiyia Spencer 3-1 (11-7, 3-11, 11-4, 11-2). Lawrence continued her strong form at No. 7, controlling the pace of her match and earning a 3-1 victory over Emma Kahle (11-3, 11-8, 9-11, 11-9). Harding dominated at No. 8 with a swift 3-0 win against Azaa Regmi (11-3, 11-4, 11-4), displaying relentless pressure and consistency. Ruggie rounded out Denison's wins with a 3-0 sweep over Keating Gullott (11-0, 11-2, 11-0) in just 18 minutes.

Despite these strong individual performances, the Big Red faced tough competition at the top of the ladder and came up short in closely contested matches.

With the runner-up finish, Denison concludes the Liberty League Championship on a high note, showcasing their depth and competitive spirit throughout the tournament. The Big Red will continue to train as they prepare to compete in the National Divisional Championships in Philadelphia on February 28.

Head coach Mike MacDonald praised his team's effort, saying, "The team dug deep and pushed a strong St. Lawrence team all the way to the end."

Denison 4, St. Lawrence 5
1 – Angel Otshabeng def. Antoinette Ramsey 3-0 (11-6, 11-9, 11-7)
2 – Madeleine Martin def. Helena Fournaris 3-1 (7-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-5)
3 – Margaret Pruett def. Amelia Keng 3-2 (11-6, 4-11, 11-6, 6-11, 11-7)
4 – Mariam Dodd def. Esme Adelman 3-0 (11-3, 11-2, 11-8)
5 – Laura Franz def. Tess Lanza 3-0 (12-10, 11-4, 13-11)
6 – Kate Manderlink def. Khissaiyia Spencer 3-1 (11-7, 3-11, 11-4, 11-2)
7 – Virginia Lawrence def. Emma Kahle 3-1 (11-3, 11-8, 9-11, 11-9)
8 – Lane Harding def. Azaa Regmi 3-0 (11-3, 11-4, 11-4)
9 – Maddie Ruggie def. Keating Gullott 3-0 (11-0, 11-2, 11-0)