CARLISLE, Pa. - For college students in general summer is a great time to rest-up, spend time with friends and family, travel and just enjoy life for awhile before the grind of school starts back up in the fall. However, for student-athletes it can be a little different they can use the time for rest, rehab and maybe playing in summer leagues to stay fit and fresh for their seasons. Then, there is the path that rising junior Katie Herring of the Red Devils women's squash program has taken which is to not only be competing at a high level, but do it in a completely different country.

Herring, who is a resident of Victoria, British Columbia, but also enjoys dual citizenship between Canada and Japan has been making a huge name for herself in Japan by picking up wins in two major tournaments. First, at the 36th All Japan Under-23 Championship from May 31st to June 1st, she opened up with a forfeit win over Risa Tanaka. She then moved on to battle Rio Yoshino who she took down in three games (11-4, 11-3, 11-7). Her semifinal opponent Himari Midorikawa gave her a bit more of a challenge taking things to four, but was ultimately not able to over Herring who posted a 3-1 win (12-10, 11-6, 9-11, 11-5). The championship final was then set between Herring and Senior Emiri. It would be Herring who found herself down a game to start as Emiri notched an 11-5 victory. However, Herring stormed back to take the next two 11-5 and 11-2, before claiming the match in a thrilling fourth (16-14). Herring then set her sights on the 42nd Hokkaido Open Squash Championship (6/27-29). She opened up in the qualifying bracket (best of three games) with a matchup against Noriko Saito picking up a 2-0 win (11-6, 11-3). Next up came Yukina Tabo who Herring set down by identical 11-4 margins. She then earned her place in the championship bracket by knocking off Kazuko Michishita (11-7, 11-6). Herring continued right where she leftoff besting Yukie Fukami (11-4, 11-2, 11-5). In the semifinal, Yukino Sakurai was who stood in her way of a title appearance. Much like in the same round of the U23's, Herring suffered a 6-11 defeat in the first, prior to collecting wins of 11-4, 11-1, 12-10. That brought Mayuki Sato to the court for the Championship match. The two combatants would play competitive games, but ultimately Herring had too much in the tank winning 3-0 (11-5, 11-8, 11-7). 

Dickinson men's and women's squash head coach Richard Glanfield had this to say about Herring's impressive summer so far. "Katie has improved dramatically over the past 12 months and I am so happy to see all of her hard work paying off now on an international level. I cannot wait to get her back here in Carlisle to congratulate her in person and see what she can do for us this year."

Coach Glanfield will have to wait a little longer though to see Herring as the junior will be spending her Fall semester in yet another country as she will be heading to the United Kingdom.