The Middlebury women’s squash team maintained their top form, extending their winning streak to eight in last weekend’s testing triple-header. The Panthers routed the visitors from Maine, beating #18 Bowdoin 8–1, #24 Bates 9–0 and #17 Colby 8–1.
The Panthers have historically fielded an elite squad, consistently placing within the top 15 nationally. This season has been no different. After losing 0–9 to Dartmouth and Cornell to start the season, the women’s squash team has since gone undefeated. They came into last weekend’s triple-header ranked 14th nationally.
The early defeats motivated the team to play at a higher level.
“Those first two matches motivated us to get better, to play at the same level as those girls, and that motivation helped us, especially against teams we really wanted to beat like Georgetown,” co-captain Izzy Ronda ’26 said.
The team also missed key juniors in those early matches — their return from abroad has brought the ladder back to full strength this January.
“Having our juniors back has really contributed to the team’s morale and our level of play,” Ronda said.
“The amount of love on this team is impossible to put into words – we’ve truly become sisters – and there are two sets of actual sisters on the team!” Aanvi Anand ’28 said.
The depth of this Middlebury squad was on full display over the weekend. Against Bowdoin, the Panthers swept six of nine matches, dropping only one.
Lindsey Burnham ’26 and Madeline Schwarz ’27 opened the matchup with 3–0 victories. At the top of the ladder, Burnham tallied an 11–6, 11–3, 11–5 sweep over her opponent, and Schwarz conceded just nine points across her three-game win at the seven spot.
In the longest contest of the matchup, Lillian Showalter ’29 stormed back from a loss in the opening game to win 3–1. A loss in the fifth spot stalled the team’s momentum, but with the matchup decided, Ronda and Sabrina Schwarz ’27 closed out the meeting with decisive wins in the final two matches. Ronda swept her opponent, and Schwarz allowed just eight points over her final three games, winning 10–12, 11–2, 11–5 and 11–1.
On Saturday, the Panthers returned to the courts to defeat Bates 9–0. Middlebury dominated, not handing a single game over to the visiting Bobcats.
Schwarz beat her opponent in the seventh spot, conceding just three points. At the top of the ladder, Burnham claimed her match 11–5, 11–3 and 11–5. Caroline Didden ’28 in the eighth spot surrendered just one point, and Lucy Ronda ’28 in the ninth spot won via retirement, dropping none of 19 points played.
Closing out the weekend, the Panthers again dominated their guests, defeating 17th-ranked Colby 8–1.
Up 2–0, Burnham battled to five games at the top of the ladder, winning 11–6, 8–11, 11–8, 2–11 and 11–9. Lucy Ronda and Mariana Reedich ’27 secured the match, sweeping their opponents in the ninth and fifth spots. Facing a 2–1 deficit, Anand battled back to earn a five-game victory (11–4, 8–11, 6–11, 11–6, 11–9) in the second spot.
In the last match of the day, Izzy Ronda fought a difficult 55-minute showdown at the third spot. The first two games were split 12–10, and she claimed a thrilling 15–13 tally in the third before losing the last two games 11–7 and 11–3.
Throughout the weekend, the Panthers showed endurance, fighting for every last point even after the contest had been decided in their favor. They conceded just two matches against three opponents. “As a team, every point, every match, we try to focus on the squash rather than a win or loss,” Izzy Ronda said.
A triple header can be gruelling, and the Panthers look to one another for support and motivation.
“If I’m low on energy or feeling fatigued on game day, I know someone else will bring extra excitement and intensity, and that energy becomes infectious and lifts up the whole team,” Reedich said.
The 8-2 Panthers host 23rd-ranked Hamilton on Tuesday, Jan 20. A packed schedule and short turnaround to their next matchup means that rest and recovery are key. For that, the team turns to yoga, ice baths and post-practice walks to stay ready for future matchups.
Sixteenth-ranked Williams, a historic rival, visits Middlebury on Saturday, Jan. 24. Winning the matchup is a big goal for the squad, and this weekend’s dominance has given the Panthers a confidence boost.
“Our six-match winning streak — hopefully seven after we play Hamilton — gives us a lot of momentum heading into our match against Williams on Saturday because we know we’re capable of doing hard things and coming out on top,” Reedich said.
Looking further ahead, “keeping up the fitness, making sure we’re having fun, maintaining our level, and not burning out” is what the team is aiming for, Izzy Ronda explained. With upcoming NESCAC and National tournaments, the team feels optimistic and ready to compete.
“This team is pretty special, we’re very strong through the entire top nine,” Izzy Ronda said. “Everyone is ready to lay it all out [this postseason], especially for the seniors.”
Editor’s note: Izzy Ronda ’26 is a local editor.
