Denison Women’s Squash Wins First Liberty League Title | Charlotte Jones Named Performer of the Year
- – Denison University’s women’s squash team secured its first Liberty League Championship title on February 14, 2026, defeating St.
- The championship win follows a dominant performance by Denison earlier in the day, where they achieved 9-0 victories over both Haverford and Vassar colleges.
- Denison sophomore Charlotte Jones was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Performer, having remained undefeated throughout the competition with a 3-0 record while playing in the number one spot.
Canton, N.Y. – Denison University’s women’s squash team secured its first Liberty League Championship title on , defeating St. Lawrence University 5-4 in a closely contested match. The victory marks a significant milestone for the Denison program, culminating in a conference season record of 11-3, while St. Lawrence concludes its season at 10-5.
The championship win follows a dominant performance by Denison earlier in the day, where they achieved 9-0 victories over both Haverford and Vassar colleges. The final match against St. Lawrence, the reigning champions seeking their sixth overall title, proved to be a far more challenging affair, requiring a hard-fought effort from the Big Red.
Denison sophomore Charlotte Jones was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Performer, having remained undefeated throughout the competition with a 3-0 record while playing in the number one spot. Jones defeated Angel Otshabeng of St. Lawrence 3-1 (11-7, 11-3, 1-11, 11-5).
The match began with courts 1, 8, 9, and 6 in play. Jones and Lane Harding quickly secured the first two wins for Denison, establishing an early 2-0 lead. Harding defeated Khissaiyia Spencer 3-1 (10-12, 11-7, 11-5, 11-7). However, St. Lawrence responded swiftly, leveling the score with victories on courts two and five. Eboni Atherley defeated Amelia Keng 3-0 (11-8, 11-3, 11-3), and Laura Franz overcame Maddie Ruggie 3-0 (11-6, 11-6, 11-7).
St. Lawrence continued their momentum, taking a 4-2 lead with wins on courts three and four. Mariam Dodd defeated Helena Fournaris 3-1 (11-9, 11-7, 12-14, 11-9), and Madeleine Martin bested Da’Nerah Chisholm 3-1 (5-11, 11-3, 13-11, 11-5). The tide began to turn for Denison when Kate Manderlink’s opponent retired, narrowing the gap to 4-3. Shortly after, Nicole Smith secured a crucial victory, battling back from a two-game deficit to win 3-2 (11-13, 7-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-4), tying the match at 4-4.
The decisive point came on court eight, where Tess Lanza faced Ksenia Merkulova. Lanza ultimately prevailed with an 11-6 victory in the fifth game, clinching the 5-4 win for Denison. The final scoreline on court eight was 3-2 (11-3, 11-9, 8-11, 9-11, 11-6).
The Liberty League Women’s Squash Championship is an annual event featuring teams from across the northeastern United States. , Charlotte Jones was named the Liberty League Player of the Year and a First-Team All-Liberty League selection, highlighting her consistent performance and contribution to the Denison team. She also earned a Liberty League Performer of the Week award on .
Denison will now prepare to compete in the College Squash Association’s National Divisional Championships, scheduled to take place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from to . Further details regarding the championships will be released in due course.