Columbia University’s women’s squash team has advanced to the Kurtz Cup championship after defeating Georgetown University 6–3 in Philadelphia.
Senior captain Nourin Khalifa led the team with a four-game win over Sanah Syed at the No. 1 position, posting scores of 11-4, 9-11, 12-10, and 12-10. “After splitting the opening two frames, Khalifa maintained the Lions’ early momentum.”
At No. 4, junior Kaavya Bansal secured a five-game victory against Ella Erickson in a match that lasted 46 minutes. The game scores were 8-11, 11-8, 11-6, 4-11, and 11-9.
Columbia’s strength in the middle and lower order was crucial to their win. Junior Eugenia Li won her match at No. 6 in straight games (11-7, 11-5, 12-10), while freshman Charlie McCrone also earned a sweep at No. 7 (11-9, 11-8, 12-10).
Freshman Isha Gupta contributed another point by outlasting Katie Hennessy in four games at No. 8 (12-10, 7-11, 11-4, and a tight final game at 15-13). Junior Advita Sharma added the sixth point for Columbia with an 11-9, 11-8, and 11-4 victory at No. 9.
The final score breakdown was as follows:
1S – Nourin Khalifa (CU) def. Sanah Syed (GU), 11-4, 9-11, 12-10, 12-10
2S – Cecilia Curran (GU) def. Yeheni Kuruppu (CU), 11-5, 11-6, 11-4
3S – Ella Schoonmaker (GU) def. Eva Salzman (CU), 11–8, 9–11, 11–7, 11–5
4S – Kaavya Bansal (CU) def. Ella Erickson (GU), 8–11, 11–8, 11–6, 4–11, 11–9
5S – Mary Kacergis (GU) def. Amal Izhar (CU), 11–1, 9–11 , 1–4 , 1–6
6S – Eugenia Li (CU) def. Aarohi Kuthari (GU), 1–7 , 1–5 , 12–10
7S – Charlie McCrone (CU) def. Lindsay Lee (GU), 1–9 , 1–8 , 12–10
8S – Isha Gupta (CU) def. Katie Hennessy (GU), 12–10 , 7–1 , 1–4 ,15—13
9S – Advita Sharma (CU) def. Virginia Wood (GU),
Columbia will next play Middlebury College in the Kurtz Cup final with matches starting at nine o’clock in the morning.
For updates on Columbia squash teams and results visit GoColumbiaLions.com or follow their social media accounts @CULionsSquash on X and Instagram.
