Overcoming Gauntlet of Tough Foes to Make History, PU Women’s Squash Star Zein Wins CSA Individual Title
INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT: Princeton University women’s squash star Zeina Zein, left, enjoys the moment with Princeton head coach Gail Ramsay after she won the College Squash Association (CSA) individual national championship last week in New York City. Sophomore Zein topped Stanford’s Riya Navani 3-0 (16-14, 11-4, 11-8) in the final which took place on January 28 at Grand Central Station. Zein is the first Tiger individual champion since 2001, when Julia Beaver ’01 won the last of her three national titles. The national individual championship trophy is named the Ramsay Cup after coach Ramsay who won the national title in all four years of her collegiate career at Penn State. (Photo provided courtesy of Princeton Athletics)
By Justin Feil
It was still early in the season and early in her career, but Zeina Zein captured her first women’s College Squash Association (CSA) individual national championship last week.
The Princeton University sophomore from Alexandria, Egypt, avenged a pair of earlier losses to become the first Tiger champion since 2001 when Julia Beaver ’01 won the last of her three national titles. Zein’s Princeton teammates made the trip up from school to see her finish off Stanford’s Riya Navani in three games — 16-14, 11-4, 11-8 — at Grand Central Station in New York on January 28.
“I’m overwhelmed with emotions,” said Zein. “It was a really nice moment to be able to lift this trophy. And having my teammates, my coaches there too, made it even better and extra special.”
Reaching the final wasn’t easy for Zein, who was the fourth seed entering the tournament that was moved from the end of the season to midseason this year. In the quarterfinals, she had to get by Saran Nghiem, the Harvard player who had ended Zein’s 2024 CSA tournament in the semifinals in five grueling games on her way to the national title. Zein did so in three games.
“Beating, her, it was a huge accomplishment for me and the girl I played in the semis was one that I’ve lost to twice before, and even a week before this tournament,” said Zein. “I was a bit more stressed and nervous.”
In the semifinals the next day, it was Cornell’s Yee Xin Yang who stood in her way. Zein had lost to Yang just 10 days before in the regular season in a tough four-game match, but in the national semifinal Zein won in three straight games.
In the final, Zein took on the Stanford star and after a tense first game that went back and forth, Zein pulled away for the title.
“I have to think it could possibly be her best ever performance,” said Princeton coach Gail Ramsay, for whom the national individual championship trophy is named the Ramsay Cup as she won the national title in all four years of her collegiate career at Penn State. “She had some real tough matches against great players who play at a pretty high level and she really played great.”
The finals match was tense in the first game. It tested Zein’s resilience when she fell behind, 10-6, just one point away from losing the game. She rallied all the way to take the lead and was on the brink of closing out Navani three times before finally securing the first game.
“I think I had a quite slow start in the first game,” said Zein. “I knew that I was a bit more nervous since it’s like if you win this match, you clinch the title, or you’re going to be the runner up. So obviously there’s more pressure and stress. I didn’t play my A game at the very beginning and I had a bit of a slow start, I wasn’t able to hit my targets much and I feel like throughout the game whenever I was even down, I was focusing on trying to make it as long as possible so that you get into the mood and into the game and try to accomplish your game plan.”
Zein’s comeback helped reinforce that strategy. She remained positive through the ups and downs of the first game. From there, she won the next two without as much tension.
“Of course, winning my second year as a sophomore is a huge accomplishment,” said Zein. “I wanted to reach the finals. I wasn’t really looking to clinching the title. I just tried to take it step by step and in each match I tried to just give it my everything and try to play my best squash and work hard. And whether it pays off or I lose, it’s a lesson to learn.”
The quarterfinal win gave her a jolt of confidence early. Avenging last year’s tournament loss showed her a path to winning. She had to change her approach after losing last year to get by Nghiem.
“I did play differently,” said Zein. “I feel like I had a game plan of focusing more on my targets rather than overhitting my shots and my length, and I feel this helped me throughout the whole tournament. I just focused on my targets, used my physicality much, much smarter, and used less energy.”
She came back each day to get a step closer to the ultimate. She delivered in her second deep trip in the tournament after advancing to her first title game.
“This is a huge win for her and obviously it’s great to have her representing Princeton,” said Ramsay. “I did recruit her thinking she could potentially be a national individual champ and help us find a way to possibly win a team championship. There’s lots of elements in there.”
Zein has been more comfortable at Princeton this year. It’s a long way from her home in Egypt, and the demands of school and changes in practice format took time to adjust to.
“Last year was really, really difficult of course,” said Zein. “I’m an international student, so adapting and adjusting here, making friends and all that was very, very stressful. And trying to also keep up with my squash, trying to keep my performance up and trying to train as much was like impossible because of academics as well.”
She has since found a strong group of friends, acclimated to the academic demands, and learned to utilize the gaps in her busy schedule to find time for extra training for squash. She is more focused on the court and has been able to improve there since last year.
“It’s her consistency,” said Ramsay. “Being able to hit her targets shot to shot and also especially her ability to adjust. If she’s a little bit off, like she makes a narrow on a cross court, she hits it wider the next time, compensates and really gets back on.”
Having her squash teammates has helped her in every aspect at Princeton. And she credited them with helping her win the title.
“My team is so amazing,” said Zein. “I’m really, really grateful to be part of this team and I don’t think I would wish to be a part of any other team. They’ve always believed in me. They always make sure I’m fine. They support me. They came all the way from Princeton to my final and just having them there, having them around made everything so much easier. It just feels like I have another home here, another family here that I can feel safe with and depend on.”
Zein can hope to have the similar success of another Egyptian who thrived at Princeton. Yasser El Halaby was a four-time champion on the men’s side. Zein was only 16 months old when he won his last title in 2006. She is making a name for herself now.
“For an individual sport athlete to come into a team environment when you’re not used to it, it’s an adjustment,” said Ramsay.
“I was really impressed with her humbleness and graciousness when she came in. She’s smart and she didn’t say too much. She listens well, and she really figured out what her role is.”
Zein has adjusted to the nuances of training in college. Training was much more individualized at home, and she had more time for it growing up. But she’s found a new joy in the team aspect of training at Princeton.
“It’s so much better to have a group training, just to be there surrounded by your friends,” said Zein. “You all have the same goal. You’re all training hard to accomplish the same goal to win team nationals and the Ivy title as well. I would say I love training here.”
The training has paid off. With an individual title accomplished, she can pour her energy into helping the team chase its goals before starting to think about defending her own crown next year. The top-ranked Tigers split the weekend, winning 9-0 at No. 13 Dartmouth on Saturday but falling to No. 3 Harvard on Sunday, 6-3, as they moved to 8-1 overall and 4-1 Ivy League.
“Obviously winning this title made me gain so much more confidence in myself and I would say I still have the exact same goals of helping my team win the Ivy championship and the national title,” said Zein. “And I will try my best to win every single match to contribute to the team now.”
The team championships would add to an already incredible season. Princeton lost to Trinity last year in the team finals, and like Zein did individually, they are hoping they can flip the results this year. They already defeated Trinity in the regular season. Princeton will host fifth-ranked Stanford on Friday and finish Ivy play at No. 4 Penn. Then they will gear up for a chance to go all the way in the Ivy and national tournaments.
“We have a huge chance to win that,” said Zein. “We’ve always dreamt of winning.”