With November rolling in and the days getting shorter and colder, it must be time for the NIU women’s swimming and diving team to take its marks.

Jeanne Fleck makes her Huskie coaching debut as the season opens Friday at 7 p.m. at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. It will be the first of 12 dual meets on the NIU schedule this season.

“We expect a close meet at Green Bay,” Fleck said. “But if we swim as well as we’re capable, I think we can come out ahead.”

Fleck inherits a team with 12 letter-winners returning from last year’s 5-5 squad. So, hope is on the horizon as NIU moves to the North Star Conference for the first year.

“Our goal is to win the conference title,” Fleck said. “In the process, we’ll work on getting to the NCAA’s and winning as many dual meets as possible.”

Seniors Jenny Horoky and Jackie Margraff and junior Jenny Smarlarz will provide the leadership this season as tri-captains. Also expected to contribute immensely are junior Kristin Scholz, who was an All-Midwest Regional recipient last year, and senior Jeanne Kuipers, a transfer from Holland.