STANFORD, Calif. – The ninth-ranked Stanford women’s squash team upset second-ranked Trinity, 5-4 on Sunday in Cambridge, Massachusetts, marking the program’s first-ever win against a top three opponent. It highlighted a season-opening three-day, seven-match trip at Harvard that saw the Cardinal finish 6-1
With more than 100 screaming fans looking on, freshman Anna Marie Manning, competing at No. 5 singles, clinched Stanford’s first victory against Trinity by winning the fifth and final game, 11-5. She won the first two games, lost the next two, then prevailed in the fifth and was mobbed on the court by her teammates afterward.
“I was extremely proud of the entire team and of the way Anna kept her composure and responded to the pressure in a difficult environment,” said head coach Mark Talbott. “The girls pulled together and supported each other.”
Stanford accomplished the feat without No. 1 player and inspirational fifth-year senior leader Maddy Gill, who sat out against Trinity with an injury.
On Friday, Stanford lost its opening match to top-ranked and defending national champion Harvard, 8-1. But the Cardinal rebounded by sweeping Wellesley, Bates, Brown, Hamilton and Virginia by 9-0 scores.
That set up Sunday’s meeting with Trinity. Stanford dropped the first four matches, but rallied behind wins by sophomore Taty Dadaboo, freshman Lucy Rowe, freshman Greyson Melby and senior Sarah Haig.
“All of our players played well,” said Talbot, citing sophomores CC Ho, Sarah Bell and Christie Huchro, and freshman Tara Shannon. “We have never played seven matches in three days.”
Last year, Stanford finished with a 7-9 record. However, the team closed strong by capturing the Kurtz Cup in Cambridge, Massachusetts for the first time in program history.
“We were ranked ninth last year, but we should definitely improve this year and hopefully approach the top five,” Talbot said. “That’s our goal.”
Stanford returns to competition Jan. 16 at Pennsylvania.
