SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The Skidmore College women's tennis team begins its spring portion of the schedule on Sunday, Feb. 13 at the Saratoga Regional YMCA versus RIT. The Thoroughbreds enter the spring already 2-0 in Liberty League matches.  
 
The Thoroughbreds have been synonymous with winning in the Liberty League over the past decade-plus, now going for their 11^th consecutive conference title. Skidmore has won its last 44 league matches dating back to 2016. Skidmore has also appeared in every tournament championship match dating back to 2007.
 
The past two seasons have been massively altered because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Skidmore head coach Curt Speerschneider, now in his 16^th season at the helm of the Thoroughbred women's program, is looking forward to the road ahead. "We're just excited to get a full season in," Speerschneider said. "The last two seasons and this year have obviously been full of unprecedented challenges, but at least now we can look at a full slate of matches in front of us and train the proper way to achieve what we can this spring."
 
For the coaching staff, expectations remain high. "As always, our goals are pretty lofty." Speerschneider said. "The last two years we managed to break into the national top 15, which has been a long-time goal for this program.  Many of the teams we're facing are much improved and will be hungry.  Winning the conference the last 10 years definitely puts a target on our back.  Our main focus right now is to prepare our games and mentalities for a bit of a grind this season.  We need to treat every match the same and be the ones outworking our opponents, both in practice and when they're on the other side of the net from us."
 
Skidmore will host St. Lawrence and Bard in conference matches March 5 and 6. Then, Skidmore will meet up with Hamilton as part of a trip to Orlando, Florida, on March 16. On the way back north, the Thoroughbreds will face off against Southwestern and Case Western at the Blue Grey Invitational in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
 
Skidmore will see the ranks of four non-conference opponents amongst its seven remaining matches from March 25-April 24. The stretch run features one match at home against Bates (March 25) followed by road contests at Ithaca (March 27), Brandeis (April 9), Wellesley (April 10), Vassar (April 16), Williams (April 17), and William Smith (April 24).
 
The Liberty League Tournament will take place at Ithaca May 6-8.
 
"We have a very hard-working and cohesive group.  We have a good group of seniors and returners who have a wealth of experience, even with the reduced matches the last two years.  They provide a lot of leadership for the younger players who are experiencing a full college season at this level for the first time.  Our young players have fit right into important roles and have done nothing but impress us since last fall.  It's a really good mix and if we bring the energy and confidence every day, I think this team is capable of even more championships and breakthroughs this spring."