Women's squash (5-3) will travel to Harvard this weekend with hopes of returning with the Howe Cup, the team national championship of women's collegiate squash.
Every year, the top eight teams in the country battle for the Cup.
This year's participants, in order of their current standing, are Yale, Trinity, Harvard, Princeton, Penn, Dartmouth, Brown and Williams.
Despite ranking in the middle of the pack, the Tigers remain confident about their chances for victory.
"They haven't seen what we can do yet, we haven't put it all out there," sophomore No. 8 Carly Grabowski said, "and this weekend is our last chance to show what we really have."
The Tigers have not won the Cup since their back-to-back victories in 1998 and 1999.
The tournament features the team's nine best players, who play in order of their ability. Princeton's lineup, in order, will be junior Claire Rein-Weston, sophomore Casey Riley, junior Ali Pearson, junior Genevieve Lessard, sophomore Lena Neufeld, junior Marilla Hiltz, sophomore Margaret Kent, Grabowski, and sophomore Christina Fast.
Princeton benefits from especially strong eighth and ninth players, Grabowski and Fast. Both managed to win their matches against Harvard, Yale and Trinity, although the team as a whole lost all three competitions. Grabowski has been perfect all year long.
"I hope to continue my strong season into this weekend," Grabowski said.
While strong bottom players alone will not be enough for the Tigers to win. The Tigers' top players must rise to the occasion in order for Princeton to leave Cambridge, Mass., victorious.
"I look forward to better squash from everyone," head coach Gail Ramsay said. "All things considered, we can come out with some unexpected wins."
To progress to the final and play for the Cup, the Tigers must defeat Penn, followed by the winner of the match between Yale and Williams. To pull off the three wins necessary for a national championship, Princeton will likely have to upset at least one of the teams currently ranked ahead of it, all of whom defeated the Tigers during the regular season.
If Princeton loses in the first round, the team will play the losers of the other first-round matches for fifth place.
Read More
No. 7 women’s lacrosse season ends in NCAA quarterfinals against No. 1 UNC
Hayk YengibaryanWith the loss, the career of senior attacker Mackenzie Blake comes to an end. Blake finished her career with a program-best 231 career goals and three first-team All-Ivy selections.
With the loss, the career of senior attacker Mackenzie Blake comes to an end. Blake finished her career with a program-best 231 career goals and three first-team All-Ivy selections.
No. 3 men’s lacrosse season ends in NCAA quarterfinals after 19–18 loss to No. 5 Syracuse
Hayk YengibaryanWith the win, Syracuse advances to the final four for the first time since 2013. For the Tigers, their season ends along with the career of senior standout attacker Coulter Mackesy.
With the win, Syracuse advances to the final four for the first time since 2013. For the Tigers, their season ends along with the career of senior standout attacker Coulter Mackesy.
Preview: No. 3 men’s lacrosse plays No. 5 Syracuse in NCAA quarterfinals
Hayk YengibaryanShould the Tigers beat the Orange, they will advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2022 as they look to win their first national championship since 2001.
Should the Tigers beat the Orange, they will advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2022 as they look to win their first national championship since 2001.