The women's squash team finished the year ranked 12th in the country after taking fourth place in the Howe Cup at the National Team Championships at Yale University.

The Howe Cup featured the teams ranked ninth to 16th in the country. Colby opened play with a 6-3 victory over rival Bowdoin College, but then fell in the next two matches to take fourth overall in the tourney and finish 12th in the country.

Colby's best stretch of the season was three wins in three days against NESCAC rivals from February 12-14. The Mules took a 6-3 win over Bowdoin on February 12, captured a 6-3 win against Tufts University the following day, and then rolled to a 9-0 rout of Hamilton College on Valentines Day.

The 2003-04 squash season is expected to be another intense year with at least 20 matches slated from November to March. The matches will be against the New England Small College Athletic Conference colleges and a few Ivy League schools. Important weekend competitions will be the Wesleyan Tournament (December 5-6), the Williams Tournament (January 10-11), the Amherst Tournament (January 17-18), and the National Team Championships (February 20-22). High among team goals is improving Colby's standing in the Colby-Bates-Bowdoin (CBB) rivalry.

The Colby squash program is primarily geared to three things: fitness training, mental toughness, and improved shot-making ability.

As part of our fitness regiment the team runs a timed mile nearly every practice during the first half of the season. The runs are repeated occasionally during the second half of the season. The team also performs court sprints and star drills and has a weight lifting program. All of this training is done to ensure that every player is physically prepared for competition.

For mental toughness we discuss how to keep the correct frame of mind during critical times in a match. It is vital for all team players to understand the importance of keeping their cool under fire and to prepare for the competitive atmosphere Colby competes in. The approach is to have constant challenge matches and vigorous court drills. We believe that the more a player is kept under pressure, the more mentally tough that player will be when he or she needs it most.

Court strategy and shot-making ability is the center of attention during private sessions with the coach. Team discussions and court drills also play a major part in player development. Throughout the season the coaches will break down a player's game by distinguishing strengths from weaknesses and chart an individualized course to better court strategy.

All of the strategies above are combined with a heavy emphasis on proper stretching and nutrition. The goal is to maximize endurance to attain a higher performance level, both physically and mentally, while avoiding injury.

Finally, the squash program has been a rewarding experience in the college careers of all the student athletes who have participated in it. It is structured to challenge us throughout the season and to give us a sense of accomplishment in the end.

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