Fords' squash coach to play in U.S. Open
HAVERFORD, Pa. – Niki Clement, head coach of the men's and women's squash teams at Haverford College, has earned the honor of playing in the 2011 United States Open Squash Championships running from Sept. 30 through Oct. 6 and hosted by Drexel University.
Ranked 103rd in September's Women's International Squash Players' Association (WISPA) world rankings, Clement was granted one of four open slots into the championship.
The top 12 seeds in the championship earned their way into the main draw which is to be played on Sunday, Oct. 2. The remaining four players of the main draw's 16 slots will come from the qualifying rounds taking place Friday and Saturday, Sept. 30 and Oct. 1. Players in the qualifying rounds -- with the final four advancing into the main draw -- include the next 12 ranked women not earning top-12 seeds as well as four open slots, one of which went to Clement.
The quarterfinal matches are scheduled for Oct. 3-4, the semifinals for Oct. 5, and the championship match will take place on Thursday, Oct. 6. The championship is, for the first time, part of the WISPA World Series and boasts the biggest prize fund ($60,000) in the history of the women's Open.
Clement, who graduated from Radnor High School, has played professionally since 2009. Her collegiate career at Bowdoin College foreshadowed the success she has achieved on the pro tour.
A 2006 graduate of Bowdoin, Clement was a two-time All-America honoree (2003, 2004) and four-time most valuable player for the Polar Bears, who finished ninth in the country in 2003 and never lower than 13th during Clement's four years as the squad's number-one player. A team captain in her final two years at the school, she received the Lucy L. Shulman Trophy for most outstanding female athlete in 2006 after earning the most outstanding female freshman athlete award in 2003. Clement's career wins total continues to top Bowdoin's record board.
Clement took over the head coach position for both the men's and women's teams at Haverford in August of 2010.
