Ivy League Champions and National Champions.

Is there a need to say anymore?

The 2000-01 women's squash team ebbed and peaked at all the right times, cruising through the early schedule, taking a tough 5-4 loss to Trinity in stride on Feb. 3, bouncing back with a 5-4 victory the next weekend at Pennsylvania and showing the heart of champion by beating the Bantams 6-3 to win the Howe Cup and a national title on Feb. 18.

Despite the mid-season loss to Trinity, the parity between the two teams was evident. Carlin Wing, Katie Gregory, Kristin Wadwha and Ella Witcher all won their individual matches, thriving under highly emotional and competitive conditions. Although the sold-out crowd at the Murr Center's Barnaby Courts would go home disappointed that day, the Crimson's confidence was not shaken.

"I know my teammates gave everything they had," Wing said immediately after the match. "Just because [Trinity] was the better team yesterday doesn't mean they're going to be the better team in a few weeks time."

Wing's words would be prophetic, but in the mean time Harvard had to brace itself for a road trip to the Keystone state to face defending national champion Penn and 1999 champion Princeton.

The Crimson's bottom third proved to be its saving grace, as Gregory, Ashley Harmeling and Wadwha each swept their respective matches. Harmeling made it particularly clear how deep the Crimson roster was, as she conceded only three points in her 9-3, 9-0, 9-0 knockout of Quaker freshman Quincy Riley.

A 5-4 win the next day over Princeton allowed Harvard to travel to New Haven with just one blemish on its record. Seeded second behind Trinity, the Crimson knew that if the draw played out as expected it would get another shot at its rival.