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The Cornell Daily Sun (https://cornellsun.com/2001/03/29/squasher-selected-to-first-team-all-america/)

March 29, 2001

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Squasher Selected to First Team All-America

By ryan | March 29, 2001

If junior squasher Olga Puigdemont-Sola does not seem overly emotional about being named an All-American it may be because the honor is becoming slightly trite.

The most recent accolade marks the third time in the last three years that she has garnered the award.

After a standout campaign this season, she also claimed a spot on the Women’s Intercollegiate Squash Association’s All-Tournament team.

With her claim to the No. 1 spot on the Cornell team firmly solidified, she went on to earn a No. 5 national ranking. She also guided the Red to its finest national finish since it became a varsity sport five years ago. On the strength of her impressive efforts, Cornell finished fifth in both the regular season and Howe Cup. It was quite a way to conclude the first year for head coach Beverly Tunnicliffe.

“With the brand new squash facility, we were certainly looking to prove something,” the coach stated. “[Our results] will ultimately help the recruiting process to a certain degree. “

Puigdemont-Sola certainly made has made an enormous impact on the program in the last three years.

“This certainly was a huge improvement in that Cornell had never beaten any Ivy League teams before. This wasn’t just a flash in the pan,” Tunnicliffe affirmed.

A regular member of the Spanish national team, Puigdemont-Sola holds a stellar 49-14 lifetime record since coming to East Hill and is coming off a season that saw her post a 14-5 mark.

It has been a star-studded career since day one for Puigdemont-Sola, who took home Ivy League Rookie of the Year honors her first season.

This season began auspiciously enough for the junior. Cornell hosted the Ivy scrimmages where she dispatched the No. 1 player in the nation in Louisa Hall of Harvard. She then knocked off former NCAA national champion Julia Beaver of Princeton.

“It was a huge start to the season, and we just continued to play strong,” Tunnicliffe explained.

Puigdemont-Sola’s biggest contribution may not come in added wins. She has set a fine example for the younger squashers.

“Most of her teammates look up to her as a truly elite player and I think that they watch and learn from her,” the coach said.

Archived article by Gary Schueller

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