With many of the women's squash team's key contributors from last season abroad and graduated, the future of the squad was up in the air at the beginning of the school year.
But a strong influx of new players has given the team new life.
During the 2010−11 season, the team had just 11 players, and a number of them were new to the sport.
This year, the team is missing its top two players from last year. No. 2 Valerie Koo (LA '11), who earned All−NESCAC honors two years in a row, graduated last spring, and the team's No. 1 player, senior Alix Michael — also a member of the women's soccer squad — decided not to play squash this season for personal reasons.
Juniors Ushashi Basu and Caitlin Doherty, Nos. 6 and 9, respectively, are abroad this fall and senior Xiaomeng Wang is no longer playing. These losses left the Jumbos direly needing to replenish their lineup.
The theme for the coming season will thus be revitalization, and the team currently boasts an impressive 16 players, excluding Doherty and Basu.
The increased depth is chiefly due to word of mouth and encouragement from the current players, as well as recruitment efforts by head coach Belkys Velez, who is in her second year at the helm.
"Belkys did a really great job her first year as a coach, and she built up a reputation as a great coach and she did some recruiting," junior Madison Newbound said. "When a team does well and the players get along really well, more people want to join."
Six of the players — and two of the probable top five in the ladder — are freshmen. Paige Dahlman and Ann Bellinger will likely be Nos. 3 and 4 in the lineup, respectively. Even with all of the new faces, the team is very confident in the competitiveness of its roster.
"Last year, you knew who was going to beat who. But this year, there's a lot of good competition in that you don't know what will happen when any two people play each other, especially 1−5," junior Jess Rubine said. "If we have another challenge match, there could be a lot of movement in the ladder. It could go either way with a lot of matches."
The Jumbos are hoping to take advantage of their strengths up and down the ladder.
"Our ladder is a lot tighter than it's been in the past. Usually there have been big gaps between the top three, middle three and bottom three," Newbound said. "We were astounded at how competitive they were. It will really help us, because if we play teams with gaps in the ladder, we'll do well."
Rubine, who played at the No. 4 spot last season, has worked hard to improve, moving up to the No. 1 spot this fall. Meanwhile, former No. 3 senior co−captain Mercedes Barba will likely play at No. 2.
Classmate and fellow co−captain Alyse Vinoski will round out the top five.
The team's increased numbers have also enhanced its chemistry. Practices have been shifted from the evenings to the mornings, helping to accommodate the players' night classes, and enabling the team to train together.
"In the morning, everyone can come to practice, which is great," Rubine said. "Everyone is able to play against everyone else, no matter the level. It's a really good experience for everyone at the bottom.
"It feels more like a community now that we have more people. Our team is really strong this year. I've been really impressed with all of the new people. What's really good about our team is that No. 16 is working just as hard as No. 1."
Unlike last season, when many of the starting players were new to squash, most of the competing players now have at least some experience with the sport.
Senior Jennifer LaCara, however, is a player with no squash experience who is nonetheless expected to be a key contributor.
LaCara was a member of the women's tennis team the past three years, and even served as tri−captain last year. Her natural athletic abilities have likely earned her a spot in the lineup.
"She's incredible, especially since she just started playing a couple of months ago," Newbound said. "She's going to be a huge asset to the team and we didn't even know that was a possibility. So it's very exciting. She's just a great athlete."
No. 21 Tufts starts its season off tonight when they face No. 26 Wellesley. They play No. 13 Mount Holyoke and No. 25 Smith tomorrow.
After beating both Wellesley and Smith last season, the Jumbos are confident heading into the weekend.
The team is especially excited because today's match marks the first collegiate competition ever for many of the players.
"We've had lots of team games already, and though it is different and nerve−wracking in competitive matches, the team all knows what to expect," Barba said. "Everyone's excited to play. We are looking forward to seeing where we stand."
