In a sport that can feel like a lonely struggle between two people in the box, Pastel has pursued collective growth, finishing her debut season with a 13-5 record — tied with junior Clare Minnis for most wins on the team.
This weekend, the No. 4 men (13-6, 3-1, MASC) and No. 6 women (13-7, 4-2, MASC) navigated a gauntlet of competition at the CSA Team Championships to secure their sixth and fifth consecutive top-eight national finishes, respectively.
Virginia fought hard in all positions against Trinity, however ultimately fell in a close loss to the Bantams who, on both sides, just earned their 19th consecutive NESCAC Championship.
“The men were superb today, rising to the occasion and feeding off a packed home crowd,” Allen said. “Drexel got the better of us on their courts just three weeks ago, so to turn that result around, and in such emphatic style, was hugely impressive.”
It was a weekend of clinical accuracy for Virginia squash as both the men's and women's teams showcased why they remain fixed in the nation's top tier.
Three Cavaliers from both of Virginia’s squash squads competed in the CSA Individual Championships over the weekend — playing against the premier collegiate squash players from around the country.
"This was a team performance that showed that this year's team acquiring their highest CSA national ranking ever is no fluke,” assistant coach Mark Broekman said, “... A brilliant team performance by all."
Facing tough Ivy League opponents this early in the season should help new additions to the roster acclimate to college squash and remind veterans of the speed of some of the nation’s best.
The Cavaliers did not win the national championship but made strides against elite competition.
The star of Virginia women's squash shares her story with The Cavalier Daily.
In individual competition, the Cavaliers excelled.
Both the men's team and women's team own an impressive 4-2 record.
Even though they fell to Pennsylvania, the Cavaliers dominated Chatham with a pair of sweeps.
The women's team is off to a stellar start, headlined by a pair of top-10 wins.
Here's a rundown on squash rules, the women's team and the men's team.
Although No. 4 is a lofty ranking, the next step for the team is to break into the powerhouses of the sport in Harvard, Princeton, and Trinity.
The Cavaliers took on three top-ten teams, and though all ended up losses, the games were some of the most competitive of the season.
Following an impressive season last year with a third consecutive Mid-Atlantic Squash Conference title, the No. 5 Virginia men’s squash team swept Navy Tuesday night at the McArthur Squash Center in Charlottesville.
The fall opener for Virginia men’s and women’s squash is right around the corner.
The Cavaliers battled through a weekend of tough competition and finished 1-2 to claim seventh place at their first ever Howe Cup.
