Squash Starts Ivy Play with Dual 9-0 Sweeps Over Dartmouth

On a brisk Tuesday night inside the Murr Center, both Harvard squash programs delivered commanding statements to begin Ivy League play. The No. 3 men’s squad recorded a dominant 9-0 victory over No. 9 Dartmouth in its third match of the season, while the No. 1 women’s team opened its 2025-26 campaign with a convincing 9-0 sweep of its own. Together, the two programs reminded the collegiate squash world why Harvard remains one of the sport’s most consistent powers.

The men’s team came into the night with a pristine 2-0 overall record and wasted no time adding a third win to its record. The opening wave set the tone as Omar Azzam, Jacob Lin, and Alexander Broadbridge each secured efficient 3-0 victories. The steady performances continued in the second group of matches. At the second position, senior Denis Gilevskiy produced one of the most dominant results of the evening with an 11-3, 11-1, 11-6 win. His performance set up momentum for freshman Maddox Moxham at the fifth spot, who clinched the overall match for Harvard with a confident 3-0 sweep. Soon after, sophomore Segev Rome added another straight-game win at the seventh position.

The final wave featured the only games Dartmouth managed to steal. Even so, Harvard remained in full control as Ishant Shah in the ninth position, David Costales in the first position, and Christian Capella in the fourth position each earned 3-1 wins to complete the sweep. The men now sit at 3-0 overall and 1-0 in Ivy League play. The team’s promising start to the season has been spurred by its combination of veteran leadership and emerging freshman talent.

On the adjacent courts, the top-ranked Harvard women’s team opened its season with the level of dominance that has come to define the program. The Crimson dropped only one singular game across all nine matches, beginning the 2025-2026 campaign with a strong statement.

The momentum began with junior Lucie Stefanoni in the third position. Stefanoni overwhelmed her opponent in less than twenty minutes, outscoring her 33-7. Rookies Dixon Hill and Jomana Ahmed followed with composed 3-0 sweeps at the eighth and sixth spots respectively, giving Harvard an early 3-0 lead.

Senior Saran Nghiem continued the Crimson’s victory streak with a commanding win at the second position. Not long after, sophomore Ocean Ma clinched the match for Harvard with a straight-game victory at the fifth spot. At the seventh position, sophomore Sarita Popat battled through a competitive four-game contest, winning 16-14 in the final game to secure one of the tightest and most exciting matches of the night.

The final wave featured three more sweeps for Harvard. Sophomore Caroline Fouts controlled play at the top position, while freshman Ona Blasco Puig earned the first collegiate win of her career at the fourth spot. Senior Molly Stoltz closed the evening with a 3-0 win at the ninth position. The Crimson started its season with confidence and now sits 1-0 overall and 1-0 in Ivy play. With a veteran core supported by several promising first-years, the team looks prepared for another deep campaign.

Both programs now turn their attention to a significant test at the University of Virginia. Harvard will travel to Charlottesville, Va., face the Cavaliers’ No. 4 men’s and No. 6 women’s teams on Friday, Dec. 5. The Crimson will look to secure wins, hoping to close out the semester before heading into winter training.

If Tuesday is anything to go by, Harvard squash has entered the season with the intent, control, and confidence of programs that expect to contend at the highest level.