WISPA tournament brings inspiring professional players

Danny Fahey Staff Writer

Acacia O'Connor Sports Editor

From her seat in a crowd of 200 people, Vassar squash Coach Jane Parker watched England’s Tania Bailey defeat New Zealand’s Shelley Kitchen in the final of the Women’s International Squash Player’s Association (WISPA) tournament. The final game was held on Thursday, April 13. After the trophies had been handed out, Parker explained why the outcome of this year’s Class of 1932 WISPA tournament was so special: Bailey was one of Parker’s students, 15 years ago, in their home country of England.

When Bailey was 11, she started attending squash practices in Lincolnshire, England, which were led by Parker. Now 26 and the tenth-ranked women’s squash player in the world, Bailey has since won a World Junior Championship and British National title among many other distinctions. Even so, Bailey noted that this, her first WISPA World Tour title in six years, was unique.

“I’ve been wanting to come [to the WISPA tournament] for so long,” said Bailey. “But it hasn’t fit into my tournament schedule.”
WISPA is a world tour of the premier women’s squash players in the world. The athletes compete in venues all over the globe, exposing women’s squash in places where it is less popular.

The Vassar Class of 1932 Tournament is the only collegiate venue of WISPA in the United States.
Bailey’s victory in the final match against the formidable Kitchen was by no means easy. She took the first two sets of the best-of-five championship 9-3 and 9-2, but the play was much more competitive than the score indicates. Bailey and Kitchen put together long rallies, exchanging backhands. In squash, players can only score off of their own serves, so several minutes often passed in the hushed Kenyon Hall without either player scoring a point.

During the first set, Bailey jumped out to a 4-0 lead before Kitchen broke her serve and countered with two points of her own to make the score 4-2. Kitchen used her advantage in height and reach to stay with Bailey. However, whenever it seemed as if Kitchen would make a run at her in the first two sets, Bailey refused to crack. After trading points to make it 5-3, Bailey scored four more points without relinquishing one to Kitchen. In the second set, she was clearly in control of play. When the crowd realized that Kitchen was the underdog, the applause echoed loudly on points for the New Zealander.

As the points continued, Bailey became explicitly dominant. She held a powerful grace that her opponent lacked. While Kitchen appeared off her guard and uncomfortable on the court at times, Bailey was completely calm and relaxed. Bailey’s power and placement tested Kitchen on every shot.

“She’s so consistent, smooth, fast,” said Parker of her former student. “She’s just amazing. I hope she gets back up to where she was. Her highest ranking was four.”

But Kitchen did not give in after losing the second set 9-2. With the third set tied 3-3, Kitchen kept a long rally alive by using the back wall twice to loop shots that would have otherwise been points for Bailey. Kitchen won the point and eventually took a 6-3 lead. However, that was the last of Kitchen’s scoring, as Bailey took the next six points.

After the match ended, Parker invited College President Fran Fergusson to present the finalists with their prizes. As the runner-up, Kitchen received $1995 and the first place prize of $2850 went to Bailey. The prize money comes from a gift from Albert Gordon, on behalf of his mother, Mary Rosmaniere-Gordon ’32. Gordon also funded renovations of three squash courts in Kenyon Hall in 1995 and two in 2000.

Following this accomplishment, Bailey will continue her tournament schedule and training. Just as with any other professional sport, squash is a full-time job for these players. Bailey said she trains twice a day, six days a week by running, biking, and weight training. She has played every player on the WISPA circuit several times in the past eight years, including Kitchen. If she were not playing squash, Bailey said she would be doing something active, be it golf, tennis or mountain biking. “I love playing any sort of sport,” said Bailey.

Watching professional squash was not the only benefit for the Vassar community as the campus was inundated with world-class players. Vassar students had a chance to receive first-hand instruction from WISPA players, including Bailey, in Parker’s physical education squash classes.
“They have played with all the Vassar students,” said Parker. “They are very inspiring.”

As a result, Parker hopes the tournament will spark interest that will carry over to the Vassar squash team and the sport in general.

“It’s the ‘Wimbledon Effect,’” said Parker, referring to the famous English tennis tournament. “For two weeks after Wimbledon, people get out to the parks and courts and play some really great tennis. So, hopefully soon we’ll have some really inspiring squash here.”