Despite it still only being the regular season, Amherst knew going into the Williams match that it was important that they come away with a victory. In the event they don't win the NESCAC Tournament and receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, regular season performance will determines\ if a team receives an at-large bid. It would be unfair to leave Amherst, Williams, Middlebury or Bowdoin out of the National Tournament, as each is ranked in the nation's top 10, but all have lost at least one match playing one another.
Thus, the Jeffs traveled to Williams determined to get the victory. Due to the weather, the teams were forced to play indoors at Williams' Lansing Chapman Rink. The start of the match did not go in the jeffs' favor, however, as they dropped two out of the three doubles matches.
At the top spot, junior Alicia Menezes and first-year Brittany Berckes continued their strong play to win rather decisively, 8-4. At the number two doubles position, senior co-captain Katie Hudson and junior Monica Snyder were defeated 8-1. In the closest of the three matches, one that was back in forth, the Williams pair ultimately defeated juniors Laura Stein and Jen Murphy at third doubles.
Despite the deficit that they faced, the Jeffs did not give up and knew that they would have to win four of the six singles matches to bring back victory. Due to the lack of courts, only four players could go on at a time. However, the first group of singles players got Amherst right back in the match and helped them take the lead. Menezes played arguably her best match of the year, absolutely killing a tough opponent in Cary Gibson, 6-0, in the first set. Menezes carried her momentum from the first set to win a much closer second set by a 7-5 score.
At the third spot, Snyder dominated and continued to show that there is no player better at the third spot in the NESCAC and maybe even the country, as she easily won 6-2, 6-2. Snyder has not lost this year at the third spot against Div. III competition.
After those victories, Hudson and Stein began their matches at the fifth and sixth spots. At number four Murphy lost 6-1, 6-4 and at number two Berckes split sets. With only two matches left, and a set of another, the Jeffs would need to win two out of the three matches for victory. Berckes provided a huge lift and took her third set 6-1, 3-6, 6-3. However, at the fifth spot Hudson fell 6-3, 6-3. Stein's match was the only one left with the team match tied 4-4.
Stein had won the first set 6-4, but her opponent Anne Schneidman, came back to take the second set 6-1. With everyone else off the court, the whole match came down to this final set. Despite all the pressure, the scrappy Stein was too much for Schneidman, as she took the set easily 6-1 and gave Amherst a 5-4 victory.
"The victory over Williams was huge for us," said Snyder. "People stepped up and it was definitely our best match of the year. Hopefully we can carry the momentum into next weekend."
After the thrilling win against Williams, Amherst was determined not to let down its guard in the final two matches of the regular season. On Saturday, Wellesley College came into town and the Jeffs greeted the Blue with a 9-0 whopping. With the absence of Snyder due to a sprained ankle, everyone moved up a spot. First-year Jennifer Ouyang moved into the lineup at the sixth spot and first-year Jill Wexler filled in at second doubles.
The doubles play went smoothly, as Menezes and Berckes cruised 8-4. The addition of Wexler into the lineup was nothing new for the Jeffs, as she and Hudson had played a few matches together earlier in the season. The duo worked well together in an 8-6 victory. At number three, Murphy and Stein cruised 8-2.
In the singles Menezes, Berckes, Murphy and Ouyang all won in straight sets and Stein and Hudson took three sets to win their matches.
"The first-years stepped up on Saturday and Sunday during Monica's absence," said Stein. "It will be nice to have her back this weekend though."
The next day the Jeffs traveled to Trinity College, and still won 8-1 without Snyder. With the same lineup as the day before, the Jeffs won the doubles matches 8-3, 8-1, and 8-4 and the first, second and third sports, respectively. In the singles, Ouyang won again at the sixth spot in dominating fashion, defeating her opponent 6-0, 6-1. Her upperclass teammates also won by similar scores as Stein won 6-1, 6-0 at number five and Hudson won 6-2, 6-0 at the fourth spot. Playing up at number three, Murphy won 6-1, 6-1, and after a close first set, Berckes killed her opponent in the second for a 7-6 (7-5), 6-0 victory. Menezes was the only Jeff to fall, losing in a third-set super-tiebreaker.
Overall, the Jeffs had one of their best weeks of the year, which came at the perfect time. With the newly gained confidence after the defeat of Williams and with the assurance that Snyder will return to the lineup, the Jeffs will look to take home the NESCAC Championship here at Amherst this weekend.
"Despite some sunburns, we were so lucky to have a great weekend of long, outdoor matches to gain more match experience for the upcoming tounament," said Murphy. "It will be great to play on our home courts, and we are looking forward to playing in front of our family and friends."
NESCAC Notes
When the final rankings come out, Amherst, Bowdoin, Williams and Middlebury will all be in the nation's top 10. The order however is up in the air. Amherst has fallen to Middlebury and Bowdoin, but Williams has defeated Bowdoin. Middlebury has lost one NESCAC match, and the other teams have each lost twice. Everything will be decided however this weekend at the NESCAC Tournament.