Fraiberg Has Especially Good Year

Senior Jordanna Fraiberg had an especially good time this year.

"Of all my years here, this was the best," Fraiberg says. "Team-wise and from an individual standpoint, ever-thing went well. Plus, I had a lot of fun."

That's an understatement. The senior squash player led her team to a first-place finish at the prestigious Howe Cup on February 19, to the regular season national championship with a 7-2 win over Yale on February 23 and then garnered a national championship herself at the Intercollegiate Squash Association's individual championships March 4-6.

Those accomplishments might have been personally rewarding enough even if she hadn't accomplished the same things two years ago. But two other developments made this year particularly special, complementing and enriching her on-the-court successes.

First was American collegiate squash's switch to the use of a softer ball. In previous seasons, tournaments in this country had mainly used a harder ball which contributed to a faster game, characterized by powerful serving and short volley points. Fraiberg's 1992 championship came with the use of this ball.

This season, American colleges switched to a softer variety, putting more emphasis on dexterity and volleying capabilities.

The change suited Fraiberg fine, as she became the first American college player to win both hardball and softball championships.

"I grew up with the softball living in Canada and really couldn't wait until they adopted it here," she says. "It's a lot more fun--you can hit the ball a lot harder, and I think that made playing this year more exciting than in past years--and I don't think my teammates minded much, either."

Which brings us to the second reason this year was special for Fraiberg: a new perspective on the value of team play. That might sound funny in a sport in which team results are based on individual performances, but don't tell Fraiberg that.

"In past years--including two years ago, it seemed that everybody just sort of went out there and did their thing, or at least that is how I looked at it," she says. "This year, though, we really gelled as a team. Everyone--myself included--seemed to really care about what everybody else was doing."

Fraiberg's new attitude can be partially attributed to her experiences last year. After placing second in the country at the individual championships her freshman year and then first two years ago, she took first semester off to travel to India. returning second semester to lose in the semi-finals.

"Last year was definitely a transition year for me," she says. "Winning became less important for me personally, and I began to think that it is the experiences that count the most."

"It's true," she adds. "I've had a much better time this year."