Squash Overview

Head Coach: Allen Fitzsimmons
Phone: 413-538-2846

The squash season runs from mid-October through early March with most matches played at night or on the weekends. Athletes officially practice two hours a day on new international courts and follow a regular strength and conditioning program. First year head coach Allen Fitzsimmons stresses fundamentals, fitness and footwork. In addition to group practices, players take advantage of individual instruction, usually focusing on the finer parts of the game, such as strategy and finesse. In 2007-08, the Lyons established a new school record by finishing the season as the 11th ranked team in the College Squash Association (CSA) national poll. The 2008-09 team returns seven of its top ten players and has its sights set on improving on last year’s results.

Squash is classified as a winter sport, and athletes are expected to return in early January to practice and compete. The team ends its season at the Howe Cup National Championships, where 32 teams from around the country are divided into four divisions (Howe, Kurtz, Walker and Epps) based on their season records. Individual athletes also have an opportunity to represent Mount Holyoke at the Women's College Squash Association (WCSA) Individual Championships held in early March.

Mount Holyoke squash athletes have typically played competitive squash at the high school level, competed for a club team or represented their country in a particular age classification before attending college. The College has a large population of international students, and the squash team reflects this diversity.

Mount Holyoke is located in one of the most culturally and academically vibrant regions of the country. A Mount Holyoke athlete is driven to excel in the athletic arena as well as the classroom and laboratory. The discipline, sense of accomplishment, and competitive edge that you bring to your sport resonate throughout your intellectual life. The desire to achieve -- it's all part of the mind-body connection.