The women's tennis team (8-4, 4-1 NESCAC) saw its six-match winning streak snapped on Tuesday with a 7-2 loss at the hands of nationally ranked No. 2 Amherst. The Lord Jeffs were fresh off their first loss of the season, a close 5-4 result against Williams, and came out extremely determined against the Jumbos.
"The key to our last few wins was mental toughness," coach Kate Bayard said. "We've come so far this season. We've dominated in matches against quality opponents because of confidence and gutsiness in clutch situations. Playing Amherst, there's no room for any sort of lapse, so to develop the next level, we basically need to take in and digest this match."
The match started with three tight doubles matches. Amherst's top doubles team - the top doubles team in the nation consisting of senior Alicia Menezes and sophomore Brittany Berckes - handled Tufts' top team in an 8-4 proset. Tufts first match win came when sophomores Meghan McCooey and Erica Miller continued their strong play at second doubles with an 8-6 victory, making it eight consecutive wins for the duo.
"We have just been trying to stay confident and mentally tough on every ball," Miller said. "It has been key knowing we can win every point and not being surprised when we are ahead. We have been confident with our net game, and we have been using the I formation for both of our serves, so that helps keep our opponents off guard."
At third doubles, sophomore co-captain Laura Hoguet was inserted back into the lineup to play her first match in nearly a month. Hoguet and freshman Julia Browne rallied back from a 7-5 hole to tie the match with a hold and break. After both teams held serve, the Amherst team of senior captains Jen Murphy and Laura Stein pulled out the tiebreaker to take the match 9-8 and give their team a 2-1 lead heading into singles play.
"At three doubles throughout the entire match, they played aggressively," Bayard said. "It was a matter of a couple points that they were less aggressive on in the tiebreaker. Against a quality opponent like Amherst, they'll pounce. The key is how well each individual can continue what has brought them success, regardless of the score and opponent."
Bayard emphasized the need to approach adrenaline-laden tiebreak points the same way that the team approaches every other point it plays.
"I think when it's such a close match like that, it's a matter of a couple points here or there," she said. "The key thing we need to continue to work on is to play those points the same way basically. We have to do the same thing in those points that we've done to get there - do what has brought us success."
Tufts only other point came at second singles where McCooey won 7-5, 6-1 in straight sets. Along with McCooey's doubles streak, she has also amassed seven straight wins at singles.
"Meghan McCooey had a huge breakthrough," Bayard said. "She's truly come into her own in the last few matches, and she's able to keep the focus needed to win. It's a combination of her confidence and ability to keep focus. I certainly think the team has every reason to be confident against all opponents. There's no Div. III team we can't beat from a skill perspective, and the team members are starting to see this."
Browne hung with her opponent for all three sets in her singles match at No. 1. After the Tufts freshman took the first set 6-2, Berckes rallied back in the second 6-3. The third set went the distance, but Berckes pulled out the tiebreaker 7-4. Despite the loss, Browne's teammates were impressed by her effort.
"I think that Julia is a very adaptable player," Miller. "She can play on any surface, and she is so willing to run out every single point. I'm not surprised at all she can play with anyone. She is a tough player."
At third singles, Miller had the challenge of facing the nation's 13th-ranked player in Menezes. Menezes has not yet lost a singles match this spring season, and she beat Miller 6-1, 6-4.
In the first set of her match, senior co-captain Andrea Cenko played the third tiebreaker of the day, and as with the previous two, Amherst came out on top. The other two tiebreakers at first singles and third doubles decided those matches, whereas Amherst's senior Monica Snyder took complete control of her match with a 7-3 tiebreak win. Cenko battled and took four games in the deciding set, but she simply was not able to keep pace with the Lord Jeffs senior.
In the final two matches of the day, Hoguet and junior Mari Homma managed only a single game between the two.
Despite the 7-2 score, the two teams matched up incredibly well. Instead of being discouraged, the team will be trying to use the experience gained in the match to bring even more confidence into the contests ahead.
"Without a doubt we could have won," Miller said. "We had a tiebreaker for third doubles, one doubles was close and playing well and with singles a lot of the matches could have gone either way. We really thought the whole time that we were going to win. Without a doubt we feel that next time we can beat them. We are way more confident now."
"From a skill perspective, we matched them," Bayard said. "I felt they were solid, but at the same time we're right there with them, and we'll continue to get stronger."
Next up for Tufts is a matchup with NESCAC rival Conn. College next Tuesday.
Tim Judson contributed reporting to this article.
