Fourteen or 16. That's the answer senior Jennifer Lejb gives when people ask how long she has been playing tennis.
"I've already lost track. I think it's 16."
It's not surprising that Lejb may have lost track of a few years here and there. She began playing tennis at the ripe age of six, and quickly moved to competitive play two years later and hasn't stopped since.
"I worked with an amazing local tennis coach," she said. Lejb then graduated to a local pro who taught in her hometown of New York City.
"It was an intensive program, three hours on Saturday [in addition] to practice during the week," she added. "I competed in national tournaments during high school and USTA [sponsored] events. If I wasn't doing homework I was at one of the programs or tennis practice."
Although she admits she never thought of "going pro," Lejb was interested in competing in tennis at the collegiate level. She looked at several Div. I schools, but found that they didn't offer the balance between academics and athletics she wanted. Then she discovered Tufts.
"I looked at Div. I teams, but I liked the idea of putting the academics first," she said. "[Tufts allowed me] to continue playing tennis and be at a great school, plus the location is perfect."
Lejb quickly rose to the No. 1 seed on the team, a slot she would fill from her freshman through her junior year. The Tufts environment was completely new, but very rewarding.
"It was a completely different tennis experience at Tufts," Lejb said. "I never was on a team before, and I practically coached the team in high school. This was my first chance to play on a team, to be able to cheer for other people. "
"Everyone is so vicious at the tournaments," she added. "I appreciate and cherish [my time on the team]. I'll never get to experience this again. Everyone cares so much about the outcome. Some of my closest friends are from the team."
Lejb's teammates echo her sentiments. The intensity and leadership Lejb has shown both on and off the court have impressed sophomore Kyln Deary, who has played with Lejb for the last two years.
"There have been matches and you think she's down and out, but she's a clutch player," Deary said. "[She] played right next to me, and [I'd] hear her telling herself, 'come on!'"
Lejb found her role on the team, but injuries have plagued her four years at Tufts. Suffering through shin splits since freshman year, this season has been marked by severe compartment syndrome in both legs that significantly hindered her movement on the court. But she has fought through it, and although she was a tri-captain of the team, she was forced to relinquish her No. 1 spot to current sophomore Jen Luten. However, Lejb feels she made a worthwhile sacrifice for her teammates.
"I'm a very competitive person," Lejb admits. "I hate not being able to compete. Before college I never was injured, but I'm starting to wear down. Of course it's been frustrating, but you make the best of it, and I've tried to be a role model on the team."
Women's tennis coach Doug Eng, who has worked with Lejb over the last four years, has been impressed with the changes she has made in order to compete despite the hindrances of injury.
"She has always been very talented," Eng said. "Injuries limit[ed] her availability, [but] the two things that really came along lately were her doubles play and mental toughness. This year her physical limitations gave her terrific staying ability. She learned how to conserve her energy, reduce frustrations and increase her focus."
Lejb's fondest memory shows the pride she has for being part of the Tufts tennis team. Following a tough match with Emory during last season, the Jumbos were down 0-8. The day was already decided, but Lejb continued to play hard and won the only match of the day. She did it, however, not for herself, but for her team.
"I felt like I represented the team," she remembers. "It was nice to have one number on the board for Tufts. It gave us that little bit of dignity."
Leaving the team after four years with a career 48-18 record, Lejb says it's about time for her to take a break from the sport that has defined her for so long.
"I plan to take some time off, let my body recover and disassociate from all the stress. I don't know what tennis is for fun," the always competitive Lejb said. "But I'm going to be sad [to be done]."
Her presence on the team will sorely be missed next year by her teammates as well.
"We will miss her talent and presence," Eng commented. "She developed into a fine leader this year."
"She's a quiet person with a really big heart," Deary added. "She's put all her effort into the team, and it hasn't gone unnoticed."
Whether it's 14 or 16 years, Lejb's long and successful tennis career has finally come to an end. She admits that, right now, she doesn't yet realize how difficult it will be when it finally hits that the season is truly over.
"I'm in denial," she says. "I've down-played the importance of it, how significant it was for me. This is basically the end of a 16-year career synonymous with my life. I don't quite know how to separate myself from tennis. It has defined me. I wished [the team] had gone further, so it didn't have to end."
