Over the past decade, William Smith squash has risen from a 2-12 mark as a first-year varsity program in 1998-99 to Liberty League Champions (2004-05 & '05-06) and Walker Cup Champions ('05-06 & '06-07), posting seven consecutive non-losing seasons heading into the 2008-09 campaign.

This season's team features 10 holdovers from the 2007-08 squad that went 11-11 overall, despite missing key personnel throughout the year. Seniors Katie Baker, Eliza Braendel, Ali Haseotes, Megan Peterson, and Lori Stump will serve as the leadership nucleus.

Stump missed half of the season in the study abroad program, but went 5-4 at No. 2 for the Herons and carries a 22-17 career mark into her final season. Baker has been a solid middle of the order player for William Smith (30-17 career, most wins among active Herons) and could move up to fill holes left by graduation. Peterson is 10-7 all-time playing in the No. 8 and No. 9 spots, while Braendel and Haseotes will compete for a starting nod.

Juniors Emily Hazenberg and Katie Mullen will be steady figures in the middle to upper part of the line up. Mullen boasts a 26-14 career mark, second only to Baker in the wins column. The pair will be joined by classmate Sarah Hallberg in December when she returns from a study abroad semester.

Sophomores Sarah Cummings and Madeleine Drouin round out the returning student-athletes. Cummings played in just five matches last season, going 3-2 at No. 9, while Drouin is looking to break into the starting line up this season.

The veteran Herons will be pushed by a talented, but untested group of rookies.

William Smith will open the 2008-09 schedule on Sat., Nov. 15, when the Herons host Colgate in the Smith Squash Center at noon. In an odd scheduling quirk, the match against the Raiders is the only home match of the season for William Smith, making opening day Senior Day.