In their first home match of the season, Dartmouth’s men’s and women’s squash teams delivered a decisive 18-0 combined victory over Middlebury College on Saturday. The Big Green, ranked ninth (men) and 11th (women) nationally, used the home court advantage at the Berry Squash Courts to bounce back from recent road losses and demonstrate early-season form.
Both squads secured 9-0 sweeps, with players across the lineups combining consistent shot-making, sharp movement, and strong mental focus. The home match followed a difficult trip to the University of Virginia the day before, where the men’s team lost 8-1 and the women fell 9-0 despite several five-set matches.
“We were really looking forward to this match,” said assistant coach Pam Anckermann. “Playing Middlebury is never easy. The girls played amazingly.”
In the opening match for the women, co-captain Callie Worth ’26 returned to her home court for the first time in two years, having missed last season due to illness. She defeated Abbie Peterson in straight games, 11-7, 11-8, 11-5.
“I tried to keep my head focused,” Worth said. “By the end, I felt much better and had brushed the jitters off.”
First-year Xiang Xiang Liu ’29 faced a challenge against Middlebury’s Izzy Ronda, dropping the second game 10-12 after a number of errors. Liu recovered to take the final two games, 11-8 and 11-5, applying advice from coaches to play at a faster pace and control the middle of the court.
“He wants me to play at a fast, intense pace, and he notices that I do that when I’m angry,” Liu said. “He told me to attack low and hard, and that worked.”
Liu credited her teammates for their support and intensity in practice, emphasizing the strong team culture as a motivating factor. “We have a huge crowd today, and having the support from your teammates during your match just makes you feel calmer,” she said.
On the men’s side, first-year Gurshan Jolly ’29 fought through a competitive match against Gabe Feinstein. Jolly took the first game 13-11 after extended rallies, dropped the second 9-11, and regained control in the third with an 11-6 win. He said the match reflected the value of disciplined training.
“When you’ve worked really hard, you back yourself to keep putting in the work over the course of an entire match,” Jolly said. “My coaches reminded me to stick to what works, play my game, and not fall into bad habits.”
Head coach Vikram Malhotra’s guidance between games helped several players stay on track during tight moments. For many new members, the Middlebury match marked their first home appearance.
On the women’s roster, Liu and Uma Patnaik ’29 joined as new recruits, along with walk-on Sophia Calkins ’28. The men’s team added Jolly, Sam Boulanger ’29, Wei Yan Tho ’29, and KS Arihant ’29, all of whom play in the top four, as well as walk-on Alec McAfee ’29.
Jolly, who plays in the number one spot for Dartmouth, said the home crowd gave the team extra drive. “You’re willing to go the extra mile to get the win,” he said. “The effort level’s been amazing. Everybody’s been super composed.”
Anckermann pointed to the team’s improved performance against UVA as a sign of growth from last season. “We were actually in there, and we were so close,” she said. “One of my goals as a coach is making them believe they can actually beat the higher-ranked teams.”
Worth noted that the small roster has helped create strong bonds within the team. “I’m just so proud of my girls,” she said. “It’s great to see everyone working together to push through our first week of matches.”
As the squads look ahead to the rest of the season, Saturday’s sweep offered more than points on the scoreboard. It marked a symbolic reset after early losses, a signpost of team cohesion, and, for the players and coaches, a moment of shared momentum.
Jolly dedicated the men’s team victory to Malhotra, whose birthday coincided with the home opener. “This win’s for him,” Jolly said. “Thank you so much for everything, Coach. We love you.”
