Another strong season by the women's squash team has not yet culminated for senior co-captain and No. 1 player Rebecca Rice and sophomore No. 3 Stefanie Marx. The two will take the court in the College Squash Association's Individual Championships at the Naval Academy beginning today and continuing through Sunday.
The Individual Championships include 64 of the top college squash players in the nation in two cups: the Ramsay Cup, composed of the top 32 nationally ranked individuals, and the Holleran Cup, for Nos. 32-64.
Bids depend upon individual rankings and teams' season performances. This year the 9-12 Jumbos, who competed in the B Division Kurtz cup at CSA Nationals, were granted two individual bids in the Ramsay Cup.
This tournament will be the capstone for Rice's collegiate career. The senior has been playing at the No. 1 spot since her sophomore year and has posted a four-year record of 25-45. This season Rice has gone 5-13 and hopes to pull off some success in her third appearance at the CSA Individuals. Rice is making her third consecutive appearance in the Ramsay Cup, where she now hopes to do some damage.
"I think Rebecca has a chance to pull out some wins," coach Doug Eng said. "The goal would be to play through Saturday."
This single-elimination tournament also consists of two consolation rounds, meaning that if she is unsuccessful in the first round, Rice may continue on for at least one more match in the consolation draws.
Below Rice will be Marx, taking junior Victoria Barba's spot. Marx has played in both the No. 3 and 4 slots this season, posting a 9-12 season record and 22-23 career record.
Marx has played consistently this season with tough draws, as nine of her 12 matches were taken into at least four games.
"Stef has had a lot of tournament experience in high school, so she has been able to build a stronger mental attitude," Rice said. "Tournament play is a very competitive and very intense experience. You can have multiple matches in a weekend, and you're really out there by yourself. It takes a very strong attitude."
Neither Rice nor Marx has been individually ranked yet this season, which will affect the opponents they will be facing. By press time, the draws were yet to be posted for the tournament, and lacking a knowledge of their opponents, the players will have to hone their skills in preparation for the tournament.
"There are some players you can prepare for and others you can't," Eng said. "So you just have to go in confidently and play hard."
"It's almost better that way," Rice said. "You don't dwell on where or how they play. Then you can go in thinking about playing your best and not worrying about the external elements. It's you and them, and you're on the court to just play squash."
