After hosting the OUA Squash Championships last year and winning, Women's Squash is looking for a repeat.

At finals last year, the team had a resounding victory, and didn't drop a single set.

"We've had such successful results each year because we have a really strong team all the way through. The title was amazing to win," Varsity Club Athlete of the Year, Marlow Benson said.

Since the event has held at home the team was cheered onto their win by community members and students alike.

"It was a really good event. It was great because we have Lisa Coates as our coach, and she knows pretty much everyone in Kingston. She had people from all different realms of her life that were around the squash courts during that weekend, so it felt like there was a lot of support, especially from the school as well."

While the title was won by the team on the court, Benson also credits part of the team's victory to Coates, who has been with the team for all nine OUA Championships.

"She's really good at reading what everybody needs, that probably her best quality. She's very intuitive and empathetic. I'd say she's really good at making everyone of the team feel just as important, the 7th spot is just as important as the 1st. She good at tailoring her coaching and energy to different people so that everyone feels included."

This year the team has played at four tournaments—two sectionals and two crossovers— and also achieved stand out results.

Their most recent tournament was held at Queen's on January 13^th-14^th. The team faced off against Western, Laurier, and McGill and won all three matches.

Heading into OUA finals, the team is focusing on inter-team competition, an important part of university level squash.

The next few weeks have a focus on challenge matches where team members try to "move up the ladder" or make their way onto the roster.

"It's a bit more of an incentive to play really hard at practice because were playing against each other, which is such a fun incentive to train harder," Benson said.

"We've made each other better because we've gotten to play alongside each other. We're so lucky to have a whole team of veteran players. That's made the experience really good."

While the team is excited to be heading into the Championship weekend, there is also some melancholy from the graduating seniors on the team.

"I think it will feel a little bit more of a bittersweet OUAs this year because were all graduating and moving onto the next chapter which is exciting but also we will miss competing alongside each other," Benson commented.

With many of the starting seven graduating, the team is looking for new members to fill out next years roster.

Benson encourages existing squash players and new players alike to come out to the courts and tryout for the team. She believes that being part of the team provides more then just athletic benefits.

"The squash team is really great. It's really social and family oriented. If you're having a bad day or if you're busy with something else, it's kind of an unspoken thing that people just come to practice and talk through their problems and getting the support of the team. I think having such a diverse group of women at all different ages and from all different background all at different stages in their life make it a really genuine place to grow as an individual and not just a squash player."