Lehigh University Athletics
Mountain Hawks ready to hit the pool and open 2011-12 season
10/7/2011 3:44:00 PM | Women's Swimming and Diving
The Lehigh women's swimming and diving team opens its 2011-12 season on Sunday when the Mountain Hawks travel to Worcester, Mass. to face Holy Cross.
The Mountain Hawks are coming off a 4-4 dual meet season last year and will be looking to improve upon last year's sixth place finish at the Patriot League Championships.
The team has added seven new freshmen to the roster and eighth-year head coach Rob Herb is excited to see everyone in action.
“This hard-working group is ready to race until they drop,” Herb said. “The leadership of the team has really prepared the group to make this year something really special.”
Leading the way for Lehigh will be its three six seniors: Lauren Armstrong, Priscilla Barletta, Elizabeth Marchese, Jill Rann, Alyssa Siano and Paola Simon. Barletta, Siano and Simon have all been top scorers for the Mountain Hawks over the last several years. From 
the junior class the Mountain Hawks return Brooke Smalley, who set a school record in the butterfly at last year's Patriot League Championships. The sophomores are led by all-around performer Meredith Bayer, who was Lehigh's top women's point scorer at last year's championships.
the junior class the Mountain Hawks return Brooke Smalley, who set a school record in the butterfly at last year's Patriot League Championships. The sophomores are led by all-around performer Meredith Bayer, who was Lehigh's top women's point scorer at last year's championships. Lehigh defeated Holy Cross last year in Worcester by a 174-60 score and expects to kick off this season in similar dominating fashion.
Lehigh has set some legitimate goals for their season, specifically in terms of the Patriot League Championship.
“My expectations are to see this team challenge any team in the league and leave a lasting impression that Lehigh swimming and diving has reached a new level,” Herb said.
In order reach this level, Lehigh will have to remain focused throughout the season in the pool and in the classroom.
“The team is focused, connected and ready!” Herb said. “I feel great going into this season. We have to work harder and more creatively than any other team out there. We strive to be the fittest, fastest and most focused.”
Sunday's meet will begin at 1 p.m. from the Hart Center Pool. Both the men and women's teams will compete in their first home meet on October 29 against Colgate in Jacobs Pool.
Other key dates on the Mountain Hawks schedule include the annual Lehigh-Lafayette dual meet, set for Friday, November 18 at Jacobs Pool. Lehigh has swept Lafayette in swimming and diving in each of the last three years. In addition to the Colgate and Lafayette meets, Lehigh will host Rider November 5, Marist on January 7, and Bucknell in the home finale on January 21. The schedule has been bolstered with tough invitational meets hosted by Princeton in November and Navy in late January. Navy will also host the 2012 Patriot League Swimming and Diving Championships, February 15-17 at Lejeune Hall in Annapolis, Md.
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2026 Convocation Awards Ceremony
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