Senior quad-captains Tristan Hedrick, Rachel Holt, Liz Libert and Erin Murphy led the combination of seasoned veterans and talented first-years. Two of the returning players, Hedrick and Hadley Miller '06, were injured for the majority of the season, but top first-year Alicia Menezes '08 and other new additions helped the Jeffs bounce back from these losses.
"I think a big highlight of the fall for our team was adjusting to some of the unexpected-injuries, a bigger team, new team dynamics," said Murphy. But the team as a whole worked hard this fall and really made an effort to improve our games for the spring season."
"It was a strange fall in that the team dynamic had shifted; two injured returnees allowed a couple of new freshmen to make great debuts," Miller added.
Amherst began the season by sweeping Wesleyan University on Sept. 18. The 9-0 victory over the Cardinals started the fall on a high note, hinting at the quality of play that could be expected from the Jeffs.
The team followed their opening match with the Wilson/ITA Championships, an individual tournament on Sept. 24-26. Menezes was the star of the weekend, winning the singles title and pairing with Holt to earn the doubles crown.
Though the women proceeded to drop the next match to Div. I-A opponent UMass-Amherst, they bounced back quickly. The Jeffs traveled to Maine for a long but victorious doubleheader on Oct. 3. Amherst defeated Bowdoin College 8-1 in the morning and then repeated that result against Colby College.
In the team's third consecutive dual-match win over Williams College on Oct. 9, Amherst easily trounced the, Ephs 9-0.
"I would have to say sweeping Williams was a major highlight," said Holt.
Amherst closed the fall with NEWITT on the weekend of Oct. 15. Murphy and Monica Snyder '08 won singles flights four and five, respectively, and Laura Stein '08 made it to the finals in number-three singles. Holt noted that the women were especially impressive, since each was playing two brackets higher than usual while she and Menezes were away at the ITA national tournament.
"We really looked sharp overall in the fall, and should again be a top contender for the national championships," said Holt.
Last spring, the Jeffs made their sixth appearance in seven years at the NCAA Final Four. Amherst defeated Williams to advance to the finals before falling to tennis powerhouse Emory University.
The women have high aspirations for another stellar spring. "I know that this team is strong, and that we have the potential to do really well," said Hedrick. "I think that we're all capable of playing fantastic tennis and improving individually, and this team really could place very high at nationals."
The women will play a harder schedule of dual matches in the spring, which they see as an opportunity rather than a challenge. "Everyone on the team is working on their games in the off-season and getting ready physically and mentally for next semester," said Murphy. "We are a deep team with a great energy and I think this spring will be an opportunity to show off our team strengths."
Miller noted that Emory's lineup has changed significantly from last year with key losses to graduation and study abroad. Amherst is optimistic that the additions to its team and just one loss to graduation will allow for a triumph the second time around.
"I can speak for everyone on the team in saying that that winning a national championship is our only goal for the year," said Holt.