2025-26 Tufts University Squash Season Preview

MEDFORD, MA (November 14, 2025) -- The Tufts University squash team has come a long way since the beginning days of action when now ninth-year head coach Joe Raho was hired to take the helm of the Jumbo men's and women's squash teams.

After slowing rising and rising up the College Squash Associuation (CSA) rankings, the Jumbos have become a main stay in the Top 15 over the last four to five years, reloading each year when it looked like graduation may cause a dip in production. But the Jumbos come into the season ranked No. 10 on the men's side and No. 13 for the women this year, as the coveted top 12 ranking spot at the end of the year is well within reach for Tufts. 

The men's squad finished 11-10 last season in 2024-25, but Tufts played one of the most difficult schedules in the nation, playing eight matches against teams in the Top 10 while 15 were against Top 15 teams. That season included wins over No. 14 Western Ontario, No. 15 University of Rochester and No. 11 Williams College to advance to the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) title match. But the next step is getting a win over an Ivy League opponent and getting a single digit ranking next to the Jumbos' ledger. 

For the women's team, Tufts was an even 10-10 last year but still played in the top bracket at the CSA National Collegiate Team Championships. The Jumbos schedule was equally as difficult as the men's but Tufts picked up some huge wins including a 7-2 home win over No. 11 Dartmouth and a 5-4 win over No. 13 Amherst to get back to the NESCAC Championship match. The women start just outside the Top 12 this season, but the expectation is to get back to the NESCAC title match and earn a spot in the CSA top bracket at the end of the year. 

Both teams will have to make up for the loss of key members this season, especially on the women's side that saw the graduation of Aleezah Burhan, Riddhi Joshi and Nieve Monderer, all four-year starters in important roles. The three combined for 31 wins last season as seniors, so it will be interesting to see who steps up into those roles for the women's squad. On the men's side, Tufts will be without the leadership and passion of Kerwin Teh, who posted 11 wins last season as a senior. Along with Teh, the Jumbos lost Youssef Ezzo and Oliver Eielson as well, both big parts of the squad. 

What is back though for Tufts though in 2025-25 gives fans a ton of excitement, as the men's team returns eight starters to the squad while the women have seven seasoned players that have played up and down the lineup. While the lineups could look a little different in 2025-26 than year's past, the consistent goal and expectations to compete and compete at a high level will still be there. 

Team breakdowns are below:

MEN'S SQUASH
The Jumbo squad starts with one of its highest rankings in program history this season, thanks to returning three players that played a ton in the top half of the ladder last season. Junior Nachiket Desai moved into the No. 1 spot midway through the year and flourished, as he posted seven wins against the opposition's top player. Desai has great length and his flare and ability to get to nearly every ball makes him a very strong top player for the Jumbos. 

Classmate Aarav Gill was second on the team in wins as a sophomore last season, and after moving to the No. 2 spot was fantastic as he was 11-5 while finishing with seven wins in his last 10 matches. Gill is another smart, fit player that gets around the court well and is highly rated in all aspects of his game. Sophomore Santiago Medina Carrillo also returns this season for his second year, looking to build on a first-year that saw him playing mostly at the No. 3 spot. A highly decorated player out of Mexico, he had his season cut short in the second semester last campaign and will be looking to make a huge impact as a sophomore. 

The Jumbos used a variety of played at No. 4 last season, but now senior Jared Chin was the player that got the most starts there as he finished the season with a team-high 13 victories. His 13-7 record was best among all players, as he was 7-3 at the No. 4 spot on the year. He has also matured into a great captain for the team, as his leadership will be key for the Jumbos. 

Rohan Valia has played a ton of squash for the Jumbos and returns as a great option in the middle of the ladder after winning six matches at No. 4 and No. 5. Junior Rutva Samant had a strong season with eight total victories as a sophomore, and plays with a ton of passion on the floor. Look for Samant to move up the lineup as an upper class man, while now senior Shivin Kumar was stellar at No. 8 last year as he went 8-3 at the position along with a 9-7 overall mark as a junior. He has progressed consistently during his career, and looks in store to have a strong final campaign. 

Sophomore Ali Tarek had a great first season, going a combined 10-2 at the No. 8 and No. 9 positions as a first-year, and brings great length, IQ and passion to the court. Junior Emerson Wang only got into eight matches as a sophomore, going 5-3, but was a strong 9-6 as a first-year player and has eight total wins at the No. 9 position over his tenure. 

Senior Mustafa Ayaz will look for more opportunities in his final season, going 2-1 through his opening three years, while now junior Rohan Bhatia also has gone 4-2 in his six matches during his first two seasons. Sophomore Milo Friedman also will look to up his career mark after going 2-1 in his three matches as a first-year last season. 

The Jumbos have two first-year players the squad is excited about, as Khaled Serag and Ilya Kipkalov will battle for time. Serag comes from squash hotbed Egypt, while Kipkalov played at Crystal Springs Uplands, same high school as Kumar and Valia. 

WOMEN'S SQUASH
The Tufts women's squash squad will have to replace a little bit more this season, but there is plenty to be excited about going into this season. The Jumbos do return its top player and a three-year No. 1 player in senior Vharsha Dinesh. The standout player has been played every career match at the top position for Tufts, as she has tallied 25 wins over the last three seasons and at least eight each year. Her winning attitude, leadership and skill makes her a fantastic No. 1 for this team. 

Sophomore Sohni Vermani came in a first-year and got better and better throughout the season, playing the majority of her matches at the No. 2 spot. Despite only going 4-9 as a first-year, Vermani is another player that has improved and should be a great contributor to this year's squad when she recovers from a preseason injury. 

Junior Maria Arseniev has been a full-time starter for the Jumbos during her two seasons, and has won 14 matches playing nearly all of her outings at No. 2 and No. 3. while posting a 5-3 mark at No. 3 last year. Sophomore Anika Goyal had a strong season at No. 5 during her first season, going 6-6 at the position and looks ready to take a step up in the lineup as a sophomore. 

Junior Chloe Bergam is another name to look out for this season, as her ability to end points with her power game has been on display over the last two seasons. Bergam has a 14-13 career record for the Jumbos, winning 10 matches at the No. 9 spot but will be looked upon to support a role in the middle of the ladder as a junior. Sophomore Indira Moshi has a stellar opening campaign to her career, winning eight matches including an unblemished 3-0 record at No. 9, as she brings a ton of energy and passion to the court. 

Sophomore Anika Parr was 4-0 in her first season with the Jumbos as well, while classmate Mia Kim went 4-1 playing as high as No. 4 in the lineup as a first-year. Senior Mafi Pinot has missed time during her career to injury, but brings a ton of passion and energy to the court while also providing sound leadership. When inside the court, Pinot has been strong with a 6-1 record as a Jumbo. 

Junior Bridget Schutt is another player that has been solid in her chances on the floor, going 4-1 while keeping the team loose with a great attitude and amazing personality around the Tufts Squash Center. Junior Sonya Bejaj is also back for her third season, going 4-3 in her career including picking up two wins in each of her first two years with the Jumbos. 

The newcomers look very strong for the women's team, as both should be big factors for the Jumbos in 2025-26. First-year Ella Hill has been a mainstay on the New Zealand national scene and will play near the lineup immediately for the Jumbos, while Sejal Virk also should slot into the starting group in the middle to bottom of the ladder. Both are extremely talented and should provide a jolt of energy for this Tufts team. 

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The Jumbos start their season Saturday, November 15 at home at 11 a.m. against Columbia University inside Tufts Squash Center.