For the last three months, Harvard women's swimming Coach Maura Costin has asked her team, "Do you have what it takes to be Ivy League champions?"

Today, the squad will finally get its chance to answer.

Because when the Crimson (9-1 overall, 7-0 Ivy League) takes to the deck of Blodgett Pool this afternoon at 1 p.m. to face Pennsylvania (7-2-1, 2-2-1), the team will be trying to take not only the Quakers, but also its first-ever Ancient Eight crown.

The feat is remarkable, considering that only two years ago the Crimson posted a 4-7 season record-with a dismal 2-4 league mark-tying for fifth with Cornell in the seven-team conference (Columbia began women's swimming a year later).

Now, however, the squad is on the verge of becoming the first Harvard sports team this year to march through its Ivy season undefeated.

Much of the amazing turnaround can be credited to Costin, who has taken Harvard to the top in only her second year as head coach. Yet Costin remains reluctant to accept praise.

"Every coach is replaceable," Costin says. "The reason this group of swimmers has accomplished so much in so little time is because of both team dedication and a mental toughness that has developed among its members."

Not everyone agrees. "When Maura came to this team, she brought with her an attitude that emphasized the team over the individual," says Co-Captain Anne Wilson. "In large measure it is because of this change that we are where we are."

Bye-Bye, Blodgett

Besides the title quest, today's meet also marks the Blogdett Pool finale for five Harvard seniors. In addition to Wilson, Co-Captain Shannon Byrd, Kathy Graham, Allison Greis and Julie Mihelich will all end their dual meet careers in front of the home crowd.