Amherst showed that it had no trouble adjusting to climate change. Having spent Spring Break in California, the Jeffs became accustomed to playing in the sunny and warm conditions. The New England weather gave the Jeffs a completely different look than what they were used to. Despite the cool and windy conditions, Amherst prevailed without dropping a single set.
Coming out of the gate, from top to bottom Amherst got it done. Starting in the doubles action, the top team of junior Alicia Menezes and first-year Brittany Berckes cruised to a quick 8-1 victory. The second team of senior co-captain Katie Hudson and first-year Jill Wexler followed suit in an 8-3 victory. Juniors Laura Stein and Jen Murphy prevailed 8-5 at third doubles.
With a 4 p.m. start time and after the completion of the doubles, the temperature really began to drop and the winds blew. Conditions like this can have a huge effect on the outcome, but the Jeffs did not let it affect them. "The midweek match could have been disastrous, with the gusty winds, temperature, and busy class schedules," said Hudson. "But we stayed focused and did what we had to do."
The Jeffs definitely were focused and also must have been in a hurry or had a lot of homework. In a very quick time span, Amherst won all six singles matches in straight sets, dropping just 13 games total as a team. At the fifth and sixth spots, Hudson and Stein both did not surrender a game. Playing first singles for the Jeffs, Menezes defeated her opponent 6-1, 6-1. At the second spot Berckes cruised to a 6-2, 6-1 win and junior Monica Snyder also won in commanding fashion at number three, 6-2, 6-0. Giving the Jeffs their ninth point was number four player Jen Murphy, who bested her opponent 6-4, 6-2.
The Jeffs will look for another NESCAC win Saturday at 1 p.m. against Middlebury College. "Battling the cold and unusually strong winds we maintained our focus and did what we needed to do to win in commanding fashion," said Stein. "We are very excited for an always competitive match against Middlebury this weekend."
NESCAC Notes
Williams College has yet to play a NESCAC match this spring, but is undefeated and has beaten Div. III powerhouses such as Trinity of Texas, Washington & Lee and Emory Universities. Bowdoin College is undefeated as well, and is 2-0 in the NESCAC. The last of Amherst's NESCAC competition, Middlebury, is undefeated in NESCAC play.