SEASON PREVIEW: W. Squash hopes for improvement

The Penn women's squash team, ranked seventh, opens its season today against Trinity at the Ringe Courts at 6 p.m. With the addition of three new players, the Quakers have a lot more depth this year. The Quakers have improved their conditioning and fitness by adding weightlifting to their workouts. "A lot of the matches will be really close, but the person in the best shape will win," senior captain Liz Fuss said. Unity is also a key factor in the team's success. "Although we each have our individual goals, our overall goal is to win for the team," Fuss said. The team is also trying to develop a better short game by working on its drop shots. Penn had its first competition last weekend at the Ivy Scrimmage at Brown. It gave the team a chance to view its upcoming competition for the season. Harvard, Yale and Princeton are the top three teams that will pose a threat to the Quakers. Last year, Penn finished seventh at the Howe Cup, with seniors Aimee La Gorce and Wendy Sullivan leading the way. This year, the team is led by Fuss and junior transfer Lyssa Hunsicker. This year, Penn is shooting for the No. 5 spot this season. Penn believes it can upset Dartmouth, Brown and Trinity. Hunsicker, playing No. 1, brings her experience from Penn State. She won two matches at the Ivy Scrimmage last weekend and plays a lot of outside tournaments. "She is very motivated and all of her matches will be really close," Demer Holleran said. Holleran will begin her third year as coach for Penn. She is the No. 1 women's player in the U.S. "She helps the team work on its weaknesses," Fuss said. Freshman Bridget George, falling in the middle of varsity, is a talented newcomer with good racket work and precise shots. "With a focused effort, she can beat her opponents," Holleran said. Abi Hopkins, a sophomore transfer from Trinity, moves well and puts pressure on her opponents by moving them around the court, according to Holleran. Penn expects a close match tonight against Trinity. "To win, it will take the best performance from every individual all the way down the line," Holleran said. "We are fresh and ready to go," Fuss said.