The college rankings largely ignore the short fall slate, so the rankings posted on March 28, were for all intents and purposes, a preseason poll. The poll was unkind to the Jeffs, dropping them seven spots from their previous position.
This fall was somewhat odd, considering how the Jeffs charged up the rankings late last season. Five of the top six singles players from last year's squad, including each of the top four, will return to this year's team.
The new rankings were unkind to the NESCAC in general, as Middlebury, Williams and Amherst Colleges lost spots, while Bates and Bowdoin Colleges dropped out of the top-25 completely. Trinity College, on the other hand, rocketed from 21st to 10th in the rankings, thanks largely to a win over highly touted Kalamazoo College. "We are a little disappointed in the rankings," said Tal Avrahami '08. "But we believe that we are a top-15 team and we will have ample opportunity to prove that later this season."
Despite the disappointment in the rankings, the Jeffs have played admirably thus far this season. Although they started off their Spring Break with consecutive 7-0 drubbings from the defending Div. III National Champion Santa Cruz University and Div. I California Polytech University, they soon bounced back with 7-0 victories against the Universities of La Verne and Western New Mexico. More importantly, the Jeffs got a 6-1 victory against Chapman University, then ranked in the top 25. A loss would have been very detrimental to the Jeffs' goal of climbing the rankings, and an upset seemed very possible, given the fact that Chapman was on its home court and had been playing outdoors for months, while Amherst had been inside for the entire winter. Overall, the Jeffs were pleased with their Spring Break performance, with one notable exception.
"Our biggest disappointment over spring break was not our loss to Santa Cruz, but rather Josh's inability to guess the price of two four-speed bikes, costing our team and the College the hot-tub prize on the Price is Right," said said Jeff Wan '08.
The return from California brought even more success. On March 30, the Jeffs hosted Div. I University of Connecticut and summarily dismissed the Huskies. Perhaps distracted by the basketball team's upset loss in the Elite Eight, UConn managed to win just one set against Amherst, losing 7-0.
After beating the Huskies, the Jeffs got down to more serious business, specifically NESCAC competition. The team hosted conference doormat Wesleyan University on Thursday and won comfortably, dropping just one doubles match.
The first real battle of the season came on Saturday against Bowdoin, a team the Jeffs have a history of close matches with. This occasion was no different, as the result came down to the last match. As is typical for the Jeffs against the sterner competition, they started off by losing the doubles point, a nagging problem from last season that the team hopes will not carry over to this year. "Our doubles play has been improving, no doubt about it," said Wan. "We are experimenting with new teams and tactics which seem to be improving our results. Hopefully by the end of the year our doubles will be as good as our singles, making us an invincible team."
However, the Jeffs battled back in singles competition despite playing without their typical number-two singles player, Danny Babkes '06. First-year Zach Lerner and senior John Godsall were the first to finish their matches. Lerner won the fifth flight in straight sets 6-3, 6-3 while Godsall had a bit more trouble in the fourth flight, but pulled it out in three sets, 7-5, 2-6, 6-3.
The fortune soon shifted back to the Polar Bears however, as Michael Mintz '08 came back from a set down, but ultimately lost the number-three singles match 6-3 in the fifth flight. Amherst's top singles player, Josh Rilla '06, also lost a tough match, falling 9-7 in the second set tie-breaker.
Down 3-2, the Jeffs need both of the remaining matches to win. Wan was able to rally from a set down and later down two match points at 5-6 in the third to win in a tie-breaker to even the team score. "I was never concerned," said Wan. "I had it under control the entire time."
The competition came down to senior Lenny Lepner's match in the second singles flight. With all the other matches having concluded, both teams and numerous Bowdoin fans gathered around the court, adding an atmosphere of suspense as the match went to a third set. Down a break at 4-5, Lepner managed to break back, and it seemed like all the momentum was on his side, but his opponent, Garrett Gates, managed to break right back and serve out the match to give Bowdoin a 4-3 victory. Despite the disheartening loss, the Jeffs managed to bounce back the next day, beating Bates 5-2 and even winning the doubles point.
Overall, the Jeffs are still very optimistic for the rest of the season, especially next week's match against Williams, when they hope to regain the services of Babkes. The match will take place next Saturday in Williamstown, Mass.