In a storyline that has become very familiar over the past several years, the Amherst women's tennis team was again a national force during the 2000-2001 season. While the team will have to stomach the loss of two star players, there is certainly enough talent returning to keep the Jeffs in the upper echelon of Division III tennis.
The two players lost from last year's squad, Jamie Cohen '01 and Carolyn Pastel '01, were integral members of the Jeffs squad that advanced to the Final Four in all four of their years at Amherst, capturing a National Championship in 1999. Cohen was the 2000 D-III singles champion, runner-up in 1999 and semi-finalist last year. Among the many accolades she won during her four years at Amherst are the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Senior Player of the Year in 2001 and a Rolex Collegiate All Star in 2000. Pastel, a co-captain along with Cohen in 2000-01, was named to the All-NESCAC first team in the spring of 2001.
But all is not lost for the Jeffs. They return a star-studded roster this fall, and will surely hold themselves to the same high standards as in years past. Of the six players returning to the Jeffs this fall, five were placed on either the All-NESCAC first or second teams last spring. Tri-captain Stephanie Fong '02 played in the second singles spot for most of the spring season, and, along with Susanna Burke '03, will be expected to lead the team. Also returning to the squad are Tri-captains Heather Cole '02 and Vas Kozoulina '02, as well as Roopali Agarwal '03 and Wallis Molchen '04.
While the men have not enjoyed the same level of sucess that the women have, they are also a formidable team in the NESCAC.
Without a senior on last year's team, the men pushed to the NCAA Regional.
Leading the way will be Bryan Wexler '02 who played in the number one singles spot last year, and will expect to do so again this year. Other notable returnees include seniors Peter Ransmeier, George Tsai and David Wellner, and juniors Rob Feeley, Andy Tsai, Adam Leibsohn and Andy Sagor.