With the home crowd packed into the Berry squash courts on Saturday, the Dartmouth men’s and women’s squash teams — ranked ninth and 11th in the country, respectively — delivered statement performances in their season opener against Middlebury College. Both of the Big Green squads swept the Panthers 9-0, combining precision, pace and relentless energy to start the home campaign on dominant footing.
“We were really looking forward to this match,” assistant coach Pam Anckermann said. “Playing Middlebury is always not an easy match … The girls played amazingly.”
The women’s team set the tone early as co-captain Callie Worth ’26 dispatched Middlebury’s Abbie Peterson in straight games, 11-7, 11-8, 11-5. Worth showed great composure in her first home match in two years, after missing last year due to illness.
“I tried to kind of keep my head focused, but it’s a little difficult sometimes in the moment,” Worth said. “But I felt that I did my best, especially by the end. I was more calm and I had brushed the jitters off and I felt much better.”
First-year Xiang Xiang Liu ’29 faced a tougher test against Middlebury’s Izzy Ronda, dropping the second game 10-12 after a frustrating stretch where shots repeatedly hit below the tin – the metal panel at the bottom of the front wall. But Liu, who played competitively in China for nearly nine years before coming to Dartmouth, regrouped with guidance from her coaches and teammates to win the final two games 11-8 and 11-5.
Liu credited her coaching staff for helping her rediscover her intensity after the second-game setback. Her coach emphasized playing at a fast, aggressive pace — something Liu excels at when channeling her frustration.
“He wants me to play at a fast, intense pace, and he notices that I do that when I’m angry,” Liu said. “It was just hit at an intense pace, make her run and stay in control at the tee, which is like the center of the court, and attack low and hard.”
The first-year has quickly found her place in the Big Green’s tight-knit culture, which emphasizes team meals, pre-match rituals and constant support during competition. Liu said teammates like Maria Clara Ramírez ’26 and Ellie Clifford ’27 have pushed her in practice with their high-intensity playing styles, helping her develop the speed and accuracy she wants to define her game.
“The energy is just really high out there,” Liu said. “We have a huge crowd today … and having the support from your teammates during your match just makes you feel calmer.”
On the men’s side, Gurshan Jolly ’29 faced Middlebury’s Gabe Feinstein in a match defined by grueling rallies that swung between blistering pace and tactical control. The first game saw Jolly battle through extended exchanges, winning 13-11 after the score was tied at 10-10.
“It comes down to the training,” Jolly said. “When you’ve worked really hard, you back yourself to keep putting in the work over the course of an entire match. I trust myself to keep working hard and that my opponent’s going to give up before me.”
Jolly’s primary challenge throughout the match was the tin, which ended several promising rallies prematurely. Despite dropping the second game 9-11, he regained control in the third, winning 11-6 by dominating the front-back court positioning. Between games, head coach Vikram Malhotra and assistant coaches reminded Jolly to stick to his game plan.
“They reinforce the game I play when I’m playing my best,” Jolly said. “Sometimes you need a reminder of that — not getting sucked into playing your opponent’s game or falling back on bad habits, but just doing the right things over the course of a match, even when it’s difficult.”
The dominant home opener came just one day after a grueling road match against the University of Virginia, where the men fell 8-1 and the women lost 9-0. Both matches featured three five-set battles, signs of progress that Anckermann emphasized in the team meeting afterward.
“When we played UVA last season compared to yesterday, it was a whole different match,” Anckermann said. “We were actually in there, and we were so close… one of my personal goals as a coach is making them believe that they can actually beat the higher-ranked teams. I know this is really cliche, but our main thing is belief.”
Worth praised the team’s small roster for fostering close relationships that translate to on-court support. Anckermann credited the captains with building a culture centered on motivation and accountability.
“The captains have done a really good job at keeping a strong culture on the team,” Anckermann said. “They’re extremely supportive. They’re not only motivating them, but they’re also holding them accountable, which I think is really important.”
The Big Green welcomed two recruits this season on the women’s side — Liu and Uma Patnaik ’29 — along with walk-on Sophia Calkins ’28. The men’s team added four recruits — Jolly, Sam Boulanger ’29, Wei Yan Tho ’29 and KS Arihant ’29 — all of whom are playing in the top four positions, along with walk-on Alec McAfee ’29.
Jolly, who plays at the number one position for the men, said the home crowd energized the entire roster, particularly the first-years adjusting to high-level competition.
“When you’re playing with all those people behind you, you’re willing to go the extra mile to get the win,” Jolly said. “The effort level’s been amazing. Everybody’s been super composed. They stay pushing.”
Worth, in her final season with the program, sees the home opener as a preview of what’s to come.
“I’m just so proud of my girls,” Worth said. “I feel like this is shaping up to be my favorite year at Dartmouth. It’s great to see everyone working together to really push through our first week of matches. It’s really good. It’s foreshadowing a very, very good season, I’m hoping.”
First, though, the teams will celebrate their victories, which also served as a birthday celebration for Malhotra, whom Jolly dedicated the men’s victory to.
“This win’s for him,” Jolly said. “Thank you so much for everything, Coach. We love you.”
