The 14th-ranked William Smith squash team will be back in action Friday, Feb. 16, when it heads to Philadelphia for the 2024 College Squash Association Team Championships. The Herons will be competing for the Kurtz Cup.
 
This weekend's championship will be hosted at the Arlen Specter US Squash Center. William Smith, which is the second seed in the Kurtz Cup draw, begins its trophy quest at noon against 19th-ranked Dickinson. The Herons' second match of the tournament will be against either No. 18 Bowdoin or No. 15 Georgetown. The second match will be played at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday regardless of the result. The top half of the bracket includes No. 13 Middlebury, No. 16 Williams, No. 17 Amherst and No. 20 Bates. During the regular season, William Smith was 2-1 against the field, collecting wins over Bates (9-0) and Georgetown (5-4). The Herons were edged by Middlebury (6-3).
 
William Smith enters the team championships fresh off its second consecutive Liberty League Championship. The Herons are 11-4 this season and have won their last four matches. Senior Rafaela Albuja Sanchez leads William Smith with 12 wins, including 11 in a row. She is 12-2 at the top of the ladder. Fellow senior and Liberty League Tournament Most Outstanding Performer Laila Selim is 10-4 in the No. 2 spot. Sophomore Nathalie Sim is 10-2 at No. 3 and has won eight straight.
 
Friday's match will be the 10th all-time meeting between William Smith and Dickinson. The Herons hold a 5-4 edge in the series.
 
William Smith has won six trophies at the CSA Championships. The Herons won the Walker Cup in 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2021-22 and the Epps Cup three times, 2008-09, 2012-13 and 2017-18. This is the second straight year William Smith will compete for the Kurtz Cup. Last year, the Herons were 1-2, losing to Tufts and Amherst before concluding the tournament with a 5-4 win over Bowdoin.