Women’s Squash Sweep Williams College to Take Kurtz Cup Home

Sunday, March 1

Columbia

Williams College

Women’s Squash Sweep Williams College to Take Kurtz Cup Home

3/1/2026 1:44:00 PM | Women's Squash

Lions' lineup dominated the Championship round, 9-0

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Columbia closed out its Kurtz Cup campaign in an epic fashion, earning a 9–0 sweep in the championship match against Williams College to secure the title and complete a successful postseason run.

Senior Nourin Khalifa claimed a four-game win at No. 1, 11-9, 11-5, 9-11, 11-5, to complete the sweep for the Lions.

At No. 2, first-year Yeheni Kuruppu rallied from a two-game deficit to defeat Melanie W. Wang, winning five games, 6-11, 8-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-9, in a 46-minute battle.

Sophomore Eva Salzman at No. 3 earned a five-game victory (11-7, 8-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-8), and junior Kaavya Bansal, who controlled her straight-game win at No. 4 (13-11, 11-8, 11-3).

Senior Amal Izhar followed with a four-game triumph at No. 5 (11-3, 7-11, 11-5, 11-8), while junior Eugenia Li added another four-game victory at No. 6 (11-7, 6-11, 11-6, 11-8).

The bottom third sealed the sweep. First year, Charlie McCrone rebounded after dropping the opening game to secure a four-game win at No. 7 (9-11, 11-3, 11-7, 11-6). First year, Isha Gupta delivered a straight-game performance at No. 8 (13-11, 11-8, 11-6).

Junior Advita Sharma closed the match with an 11-5, 11-7, 11-5 sweep at No. 9.

Columbia 9, Williams 0
1S – Nourin Khalifa (CU) def. Rhea Pandit (WIL), 11-9, 11-5, 9-11, 11-5
2S – Yeheni Kuruppu (CU) def. Melanie W. Wang (WIL), 6-11, 8-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-9
3S – Eva Salzman (CU) def. Frances Brooks (WIL), 11-7, 8-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-8
4S – Kaavya Bansal (CU) def. Rachel Miller (WIL), 13-11, 11-8, 11-3
5S – Amal Izhar (CU) def. Roshni Pal (WIL), 11-3, 7-11, 11-5, 11-8
6S – Eugenia Li (CU) def. Sophia Koehler (WIL), 11-7, 6-11, 11-6, 11-8
7S – Charlie McCrone (CU) def. Anika Kakarla (WIL), 9-11, 11-3, 11-7, 11-6
8S – Isha Gupta (CU) def. Alicia Chen (WIL), 13-11, 11-8, 11-6
9S – Advita Sharma (CU) def. Naomi Jefferson-Sambanis (WIL), 11-5, 11-7, 11-5

UP NEXT
Columbia men's squash is taking on Tufts University in the CSA National Championships. The first match is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 5, inside the Arlen Specter US Squash Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Tournament information can be found here.
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