Last Tuesday, Amherst defeated Brandeis University (5-1) to generate their one win of the short season. Their two losses were both to Division I teams, UMass and the University of Hartford.
Despite their losing record this fall, the Jeffs are positive about what is to come in the spring season. "Though we ended up 1-2, we got practice in," said Andy Tsai '03. "It was a good warm-up for the [spring] season." Tsai noted two Division I losses were good practice for the Division III teams the Jeffs will be facing the spring. These Division I losses will not affect Amherst's Division III ranking.
For the second time this season, the Jeffs were swept in doubles matches on Wednesday. The duo of Tsai and Co-captain Peter Ransmeier '02 fell 8-3 while Andrew Merle '04 and Arpan Podduturi '05 lost 8-1 in their match. Bryan Wexler '02 and Rob Feeley '03 fared better but still lost in a close 9-7 showdown.
Tsai won one of Amherst's two points with a victory in the two-spot over Todd Champeau. Tsai took the match in two sets, 6-3, 7-5.
Merle produced the most dominating performance for the Jeffs on Wednesday, shutting out his opponent, Reid Stubbs, 6-0 in the first set and taking the second one 6-2. In his three singles matches for the Amherst lineup this fall, Merle went undefeated.
At the number one spot, Wexler lost in two sets to Steve Prisco (6-2, 6-4). Wexler was on top of the singles line-up in all three of the Jeffs' matches and finished with a record of 1-2.
Will Abbott '05 suffered his first singles loss this fall against Phillip Rodrigues, who defeated him 6-4, 6-2 in the number six match. The addition of Abbott has helped the Jeffs tremendously this fall. He competed in all three matches and finished with a singles record of 2-1.
To round out the scoring for the Jeffs, Feeley lost in two sets to Scott Sans Leeb (6-2, 7-5) at number three. In the five match Andy Sagor '03 dropped a tough first set 7-5 to Eric Reblin and lost the second 6-1.
Another opportunity for the Jeffs to look forward to is the return of Co-captain David Wellner '02, who had to sit out the fall season because of an injury. Joining Wellner in his return this spring will be Adam Leibsohn '03, who is abroad this semester.