The William Smith squash team will begin the 2011-12 season with matches against Vassar and St. Lawrence in Clinton, N.Y., on Saturday, Nov. 12. Head Coach Chip Fishback begins his 13th season with the Herons. He returns eight players from last year's roster and welcomes five newcomers.

In 2010-11, William Smith posted an 11-9 record. The Herons lost two players, Alexa Comstock and Else Ross, to graduation.

Juniors Anne Habecker, Courtney Leous and Lucia Rowe are studying abroad for the fall semester, but will re-join the Herons in 2012. Habecker logged 11 wins, recording nine at No. 4. Rowe also tallied 11 wins in the 2010-11 season, playing the majority at the No. 8 spot. Leous played at Nos. 4-5 and also four matches at No. 8 last winter.

“This year is all about rebuilding, especially this fall. We'll be focused on getting everyone more playing experience and building our skills so that we will be playing our best squash when we reach the Howe Cup in February,” said Fishback.

The Herons will look two their two seniors, Sarah Cutts and Katie Riordan for leadership this winter.  Both Cutts and Riordan return from studying abroad last spring. Cutts played in one match last season, and Riordan posted a 6-3 overall record, including a 5-3 mark at No. 6.  The senior Herons will anchor the middle of the William Smith lineup.

Junior Olivia Beckwith will also return. Last season, she posted a team-high 15 wins, including a 6-3 mark at No. 5 and an 8-2 record at No. 6. Sophomore Ginny McDermott is also back, and will look to build on a solid first season. Last year, she was second on the team with 14 wins, including a 10-6 mark at No. 7. This year she will need to step up and play even higher in the Heron lineup. A starter in 14 matches last winter, sophomore Tyler Mitchell posted a 10-4 record in her rookie season. She was voted most improved player by her teammates last year, and has been playing very well in preseason practice.

Sophomore Caroline Moxley is new to the Heron roster. She played squash in high school and will be a strong player at the top of the William Smith lineup this season. Junior Rosemary Chandler, sophomores Nellie Lindecke, Hannah Meyer as well as, first-year Molly Doran will also break into the starting lineup in their first seasons.

After taking on the Brewers and the Saints, William Smith will travel to play Rochester on Saturday, Nov. 19. The Herons will round out the calendar year competing in the Wesleyan Round Robin which begins on Dec. 3. William Smith will start 2012 taking part in the Smith Round Robin beginning Jan. 28. The Herons will play their home-opener on Feb. 5, when they host Franklin & Marshall at the Smith Squash Center at 10:30 a.m.