Thanks to the number-three national ranking, every time the women’s tennis team steps onto the court, it has a target on its back. And after Amherst fell to Williams College for its first loss of the season, teams around the NESCAC hoped to take advantage of the potentially vulnerable Jeffs. However, this weekend the Jeffs proved that they would not let the loss affect them, as they improved their overall record to 10-1 with two NESCAC victories this weekend. After a trouncing through their first match, the third­-ranked Jeffs were clutch in a very close match on Sunday.

On Saturday, the Jeffs demolished Colby College 9-0. The weather initially forced the Jeffs inside at Mt. Holyoke College, but the singles matches were moved outside as the sun dried up the courts. After sweeping the doubles 3-0 and losing only five total games as a team, the Jeffs had all of the momentum going into the singles. Amherst hardly needed it, though, as each match was a breeze, with no player losing more than two games. In the “competition” to lose the fewest games, sophomore Brittany Berckes (first singles) and senior captain Alicia Menezes (third singles) both won 6-0, 6-0.

While the Jeffs cruised through the Colby match, the outcome of the Bowdoin match was in doubt until the end. Once again, the rainy weather forced the teams to split the indoor courts at Mt. Holyoke with the men’s team. The Jeffs came out strong in the doubles play. All three matches were close. Menezes and Berckes, at the top spot, pulled off a 9-7 victory, while the second team of first-year Natasha Brown and sophomore Jill Wexler won 8-5. Unfortunately, at the third spot, senior captains Laura Stein and Jen Murphy fell 8-6.

After such close doubles play, the Jeffs knew they would be in for a close match in the singles. At the top spot, Berckes came up with a huge victory, winning 6-3, 7-6. In an amazing second-set tiebreaker, the sophomore fought off match points and won by a score of 15-13. While both players continually fought, Berckes simply refused to lose.

Also picking up a huge victory for the Jeffs was Brown, who won rather handily at the fifth spot, 6-3, 6-0. Wexler and senior captain Monica Snyder, at the second and fourth spots, respectively, both lost in straight sets; Menezes, at the third spot, lost in three sets. With these three loses, the score was evened up at 4-4 with the sixth singles match still undecided.

This meant all of the pressure was on the shoulders of Murphy. Murphy, who has been in and out of the singles lineup, fell behind early and dropped the first set. In the second set, she found herself trailing again, 4-3, and needing desperately to break serve to stay in the match.

Things did not look good in this next game, as Murphy fell behind 40-love. However, she fought off three consecutive game points to bring the game back to deuce. With the momentum in her favor, Murphy took the game and evened up the set, 4-4. After holding serve herself, Murphy broke her opponent for the second consecutive time to take the set, 6-4.

With all of the pressure, and everyone watching, Murphy played smart and consistent tennis, taking the final set, 6-4, to win the match and earn the overall victory for the Jeffs.

“She showed her senior leadership and experience by staying poised and calm throughout,” said Stein. “She did what she needed to do to win the match and seal the victory for team.”

The win couldn’t have come at a better time for the Jeffs. After losing to Williams last week, and being ranked third in the country, the win helped the Jeffs avoid the upset and a second NESCAC loss.

“It was an important match for us to win,” said Menezes. “We will use the lessons we learned from it as we move forward to the rest of the season.”

The Jeffs have three NESCAC matches remaining before the NESCAC Tournament, where they hope to avenge their Williams loss. In the meantime, they will direct their attention towards Trinity College, who they will take on at home on Friday at 3 p.m.