After spending ten days training in Cape Town, South Africa, the women's squash team continues on its travels this weekend.
Next up on the itinerary?
The slightly-less exotic locales of Williamstown, Mass., Amherst, Mass. and New Haven, Conn., as the team takes on Williams (4-5), Amherst (2-1) and Bowdoin (1-3).
And if the Quakers are disappointed about the contrast between South Africa and rural Massachussetts or dreary New Haven, they're certainly hiding it well.
"We're really excited and looking forward to this weekend," co-captain Elizabeth Kern said. "It gives us a chance to apply what we learned training."
Consider that the Quakers' (3-0, 3-0 Ivy) opinion that the three matches will be nothing more than tune-ups for the tougher meets down the road.
But first, they're taking on Williams on Saturday morning, hopping over to Amherst for an afternoon match and then driving to Connecticut to face Bowdoin in a neutral site on Sunday.
The Ephs' top-two players should be familiar to more than a few of the Quakers.
Sisters Ashley and Toby Eyre honed their skills on the court on the Main Line, in Gladwyne, Pa.
Penn has four players on its roster from the Philadelphia area, and they've undoubtedly clashed on the court in the past.
But more pressing than renewing old rivalries will be beating the two.
They make for a formidable duo at the No. 1 and No. 2 spots in the lineup, and should keep their Quakers counterparts - sophomores Kristen Lange and Sydney Scott - busy for a while.
"Williams is strong up top and is a competitive top-10 team," coach Jack Wyant said. "Amherst is weaker and is in more of a transitional phase."
If none of the teams they face is much of an obstacle, the grind of travel and training might be.
Kern's fellow captain, Lauralyn Drury, said the team is taking into consideration possible fatigue.
In addition to the turnaround from South Africa and the prospect of playing three matches in two days, five of their players competed in the Liberty Bell Classic, a professional tournament, this week.
But like Kern, Drury's eyes were set to the future. She glossed over this weekend and said the team's focus was looking beyond.
"It's going to be tough this weekend," she said, "but our schedule next week is light, so we can rest for our big matches."
