When the Harvard women's swimming and diving team enters the locker room at Blodgett Pool each day, the squad is confronted with the same challenge:

"Do not open this door unless you are ready to win the Ivy League title."

This year the Crimson (2-0) is doing something different to accomplish its goal of winning the conference championship.

Intensified training, improved attitudes, better communication between coaches and athletes and a heightened sense of confidence are what Harvard hopes can make the difference.

So far the team has seen nothing but positive results, with convincing wins over Cornell and Dartmouth last weekend.

However, the team's attempts at the title the past few seasons haven't been as easy. The Crimson has not won an Ivy championship in several years.

It seemed as if last season was the Crimson's chance to break out of the shadows of defending Ivy League Champion, Brown. It was also Harvard's chance to break free from the chains of Princeton's dual meet dominance.

The Crimson almost did it.