CJS Press Box

Columbia women’s squash came up empty (0-9) against Stanford this afternoon, but the Lions weren’t competing at full strength due to the absence of their No.1 player. 

Senior Captain Nourin Khalifa’s racquet didn’t leave her bag as she watched from the sidelines. The decision to rest was about prioritising tomorrow’s match, when the Lions take on Cornell for the chance of a ticket to the national championship. 

Khalifa, a senior at Barnard College from Alexandria, Egypt, has been the emotional engine of this Columbia squad all year. After back-to-back heavy weekends against Dartmouth, Harvard, Penn and Individual Championships, her hamstring tightened from overuse, layered on top of a recent hip injury which saw her miss competition in the fall. 

The coaching staff made the call to pull her out of competing today, knowing what she means to the lineup when the stakes are at their highest. 

“I’ve had a really good week of recovery,” Khalifa said. “Tomorrow is a big match for us. Whatever happens, even if it’s a bad day, I’m going to give it all for my team.” 

That mindset has helped Khalifa through one of the toughest seasons in Columbia women’s squash history. The Lions (1-11) have managed only one win this season, with a 8-1 victory over Colby in November, and are currently 0-4 in conference play. 

Earlier this year at Dartmouth, Khalifa nearly didn’t play at all. The night before the match she fell ill, unable to eat and unsure if she could even get through warmups. She went on court anyway and took the win from two games down. 

“I told myself to pretend it was the last match of my career,” she said. “I didn’t want to feel guilt from being one of the losses and not helping my team.” 

Even in a match Columbia ultimately lost, that performance rippled through the lineup. Teammates saw a captain lead by example, and Head Coach Chris Sachvie saw an athlete who could make it all the way. 

“She doesn’t shrink from pressure, she raises her game,” Sachvie said. “Thats something the younger players can look at and say, ‘That’s how you compete.’”

Khalifa’s journey to Columbia was less than straightforward. A U.S. Junior Open U15 champion in 2018, she drew early interest from top programs, but her father was hesitant about her leaving Egypt. 

Then COVID disrupted everything, followed by a flurry of injuries, cancelled exams and delayed recruiting timelines. When Columbia finally called, offering her a place at Barnard, she said yes without hesitation. 

Columbia historically hasn’t been an Ivy league squash powerhouse on the level of Harvard or Penn, but it has consistently been able to attract international talent, and has hovered within striking distance of the top tier. 

“I didn’t even know what Barnard was,” she said. “I just knew I wanted to be on the team.”

Khalifa convinced her father to tour the school with her, and after he had seen it for himself he made the decision to allow her to commit.  

Now, as a senior captain, she’s the one setting the tone in moments like this weekend.

Unlike the majority of NCAA sports, squash operates under the College Squash Association’s team championship structure, which divides programs into divisions based on national rankings rather than traditional pure win-loss record. 

The top 12 teams qualify for the CSA National Team Championships, regardless of their conference standings, the trailing teams play out the postseason in the CSA Divisional Championships. With parity across the middle of the rankings, a team hovering around the No.12 cutoff can still control its postseason fate with a late-season win if it’s over a direct rival. 

With Columbia firmly just outside the national top 12, Saturday’s match against Cornell carries heavy postseason consequences. 

A win would send the Lions back into the national championship field. The pressure is obvious, but Khalifa has tried to encourage the team to focus on what matters most. 

“I keep telling them we have nothing to lose,” she said. “As long as you show up and give it your all, that’s enough.” 

Sachvie sees the balance she’s struck all season – pushing her teammates while keeping the locker room connected. 

“She’s grown a lot as a leader,” he said. “She competes hard, but does it in a way that people respond to. That’s not easy.” 

For Columbia, the path to nationals runs straight through Cornell. And for Khalifa, it’s another chance to do what she’s done all season – carry her team with her, and deliver their best shots.

*This story was originally written for publication on February 6, 2026.