Way sees the mixed training as a necessity for any top player’s development.

“Laura played with the men a lot last year,” Way said. “But [Sobhy], at that level, has to spend even more time with the men.  She does at least three sessions out of five with the men, sometimes four. And sometimes she does a double [session].”

But for Sobhy, someone who has competed as an individual for most of her life, the team aspect of collegiate squash is one of its main appeals.

“It’s really great having a team,” Sobhy said. “We all push each other.  Whenever we are down we have the team to pick each other up, and we’re always there to help each other if we have problems.  It’s nice to have a big support group; it’s like a big family.”

The rest of the team also seems supportive of Sobhy’s training routine, as Gemmell believes anything that helps her teammate helps the team as a whole.

“Women’s squash is very different than men’s squash. I get much more out of playing the top women’s player than when I used to train with some of the guys in my previous years,” Gemmell said. “The pace she hits the ball at, and the way she moves around the court, it’s at such a high level. I feel like I improve so much playing with her.”

Gemmell, despite her strong performances in the No. 2 spot, has found this season to be quite unlike her previous ones.

“My sophomore year was basically a repeat of my freshman year because you play the same girls at the No. 1 spot each time,” Gemmell said. “Obviously, I would love to play the No. 1 girls, but I still have super competitive matches.”

With Sobhy and Gemmell, the Crimson look poised to continue their undefeated season and make a run at returning to the summit of women’s collegiate squash.

“I think the team feels really confident,” Gemmell said. “The end of January and beginning of February is the heart of our season, and we have been training all fall for it, so people are really excited and confident.  If you look at our whole line-up, we are just stacked.”

—Staff writer Peter G. Cornick can be reached at pcornick@college.harvard.edu.