Unfortunately, a crucial member of the team was left behind as junior Alicia Menezes was snowed-in until Monday. Thus, Amherst had to take on the defending champions without their top player. Despite this loss and having just traveled, Amherst played Emory tough last Sunday. The Jeffs ended up losing 6-3, but it was a close match that they could have won, especially if Menezes was there.
Everyone on the team moved up a spot in the lineup and had to face tougher individual competition due to Menezes' absence. Despite the loss, there were several positives from the match. Playing in the first spot, first-year Brittany Berckes played an incredibly tough match against the top player on the nation's top team. After splitting the first two sets, 6-3, 6-7 (7-4), Berckes lost a close third set, 7-5. At the third spot, junior Jen Murphy defeated her opponent handily, 6-1, 6-3, and at the fifth spot, junior Laura Stein won 6-3, 1-6, 6-3. One of the biggest positives of the match was the emergence of first-year Jill Wexler, who filled in at the top of the doubles lineup with Berckes to win 8-0. Wexler's great play earned her a spot at second doubles the rest of the week after Menezes returned.
On Tuesday, Amherst traveled to Fullerton to play Div. I team Cal State Fullerton. The match, which occurred over an almost five-hour span due to inclement whether and two rain delays, came down to the final doubles matches. Getting to move down a spot, the fourth, fifth and sixth singles players all won, with Murphy going 1-6, 7-5, 6-4, senior co-captain Katie Hudson winning 6-4, 6-3, and Stein claiming a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 win. Stein and Murphy both had their matches interrupted with rain, and came back from the delay on fire to take their third sets. With the team match knotted at 3-3, it came down to the doubles. At the third spot, Stein and Murphy were able to cruise to an 8-3, win but the teams of Menezes and Berckes and Hudson and Wexler both fell 3-8.
After their first two losses, there was probably no 0-2 team in any sport as strong as Amherst. The Jeffs' losses came first without their best player and against last year's National Champions and against a Div. I team. In the next three matches, The Jeffs showed why they are considered a contender for the National Championship.
Against Claremont College, Amherst dominated en route to a 9-0 victory. The Jeffs got off to a quick start winning each doubles match and had the momentum going into singles. The most exciting match was at the number one singles spot, in which Menezes proved she was sorely missed against Emory. Having lost the first set 1-6, Menezes fought back against a tough opponent in Yassie Entekhabi to win the second set 7-6 (7-5). The junior star changed her style from the first set, playing a lot more defense and sending deep and topspin-heavy balls back to her opponent, waiting for the right opportunity to attack. Menezes carried her over success to a third set super tiebreaker, winning 11-8.
The following day, Amherst took on Pomona College, and used strong doubles play to set the tone in a 7-2 victory. The first and third teams won handily, both by a score of 8-3. The second doubles team of Hudson and Wexler provided all of the entertainment. Down 7-4, the duo tied the score at 7-7 and went on to win the match 9-7.
"When we were down 7-4, I realized that I had to play like my idol Laura Stein," said Wexler. "And now that I stole her hat, I am invincible."
In the singles, the middle of the lineup had success, as the number two through number five spots won. Junior Monica Snyder won a great match in decisive fashion at the third spot, constantly over powering her opponent and hitting several winners in a 6-1, 6-3, victory. Berckes and Murphy won at the two and four spots in straight sets. Hudson had quite a battle at number five, winning the first set 7-5, but losing the second 0-6. However, she fought back and won the super tiebreaker 12-10.
In the final match, this past Saturday, Amherst had a decisive victory over Redlands University. Second doubles fell by a score of 8-4, but Stein and Murphy won 8-3 and Menezes and Berckes won 8-5. The singles results were the same as the match before, as Berckes, Snyder, Murphy, and Hudson all won in straight sets. Stein fell in the sixth spot, and at the top spot Menezes lost a close three-set match.
All in all, Amherst has to be satisfied with its Spring Break trip, finishing 3-2, but beating some of the nation's top competition in Claremont and Pomona. Having played one match without their top player, the Jeffs are glad to know they will have Menezes, who is ready to compete against the NESCAC teams.
"Overall, spring break was a very good experience," said Menezes. "It was tough playing doubles with an awkward turtle like Berckes, but I managed to get over it and now we're ready to jump on it."
The Jeffs kick off their NESCAC schedule today, and take on Wesleyan at 4 p.m.
NESCAC Notes
Middlebury, Williams, and Bowdoin Colleges will provide the main competition for the Jeffs this year. Williams also defeated Claremont and Redlands. Williams' sophomore Cary Gibson was the top player in the fall. Similar to Williams, Bowdoin also has a tough and young squad.