Ariella Stober '03 lives to serve, and it shows. Not only is Stober a tri-captain for the Brandeis women's tennis team, but just recently she was named UAA co-Athlete of the Week for Sept. 23 in the sport of women's tennis. She earned the distinction by finishing the week undefeated, winning two singles matches against Connecticut College along with a doubles match with partner Katie Albert '04 on Sept. 21. At a follow-up during the same week, she and Katie also won another doubles match against Holy Cross on Sept. 22."I guess it's an honor," Stober said about being selected. "I've been playing at Brandeis since I was a freshman and this is my fourth year on the team .. I love tennis. That's the reason I play. When you play a Division III sport it's for the competition but it's also because you love to play."

Delving a little into Stober's past shows how much dedication she has to her sport. She started playing tennis competitively the summer before high school at the age of 14 and has been keeping it up ever since. Originally hailing from Montreal, Canada, Stober also speaks French fluently. The story of her tennis career, however, starts in Scottsdale, Ariz. where Stober moved with her family in the ninth grade.

"In high school I played on a really competitive team with three nationally ranked players and so I played number five out of our top six. It was a really great experience. I got to play with such great people and that's why I love (tennis) so much," Stober said. For the duration of her high school career the team claimed the title of state champion four years running.

As a freshman at Brandeis, Stober began her collegiate tennis career playing number five singles. Slowly but surely, the tennis ace made her way to the top, playing number two in singles for a semester until finally reaching the pinnacle: Playing number one singles second semester. Unfortunately Stober's tennis would be hampered by injury.

"I sprained my ankle junior year and I was pretty much gone. I didn't play for a semester," Stober said, "Second semester, junior year I came back a little bit. I played mostly doubles because of my ankle."

Judy Houde, head coach of the women's tennis team has been coaching Stober ever since she started at Brandeis. "She's made progress every year up until she hurt her ankle. But, that's hard to make up. This year is the first year she's fully back after an ankle injury. Ariella has the skill but she was injured and I think that really set her back. She had an ankle injury and before she had very quick footwork, very quick on the court," Houde said.

Despite working her way back onto the starting lineup Stober always has been and still is an integral part of a tightly knit tennis team. Serving as a tri-captain this year, she was a captain last year as well. Overall, she is cheerful and optimistic when it comes to her fellow teammates and seems to take on the role of a natural leader.

"I love the people on the team. Everyone on the team this year is really talented and having a good season. We have a lot of talent. More so than we've had in the past years. I think we should look forward to a great season this year," Stober said.

Houde sees what makes Stober a team player respected by all the others in the squad

"I think she's very popular among the players and very vocal in her opinions and what's she's thinks is best for the team," Houde said.

Being on the tennis team is a commitment. The tennis team has a split season, playing both in the fall and in the spring. The team meets for practice every Monday through Friday two hours a day, with matches usually on weekends. Even then, Stober highlights the good sides. "On the way to meets we all munch on the bagels and bananas and cream-cheese in the van. It's kind of low key but it's very fun."

Stober puts a lot of work into academic pursuits along with athletics. Making the dean's list every semester, she was also accepted into the Lemberg program last year for a combined BA/MA in international economics and finance. After receiving her bachelor's this year she will continue at Brandeis and will receive her master's next year.

Stober also keeps busy by going back to Montreal every summer. Over the last few years she has been teaching tennis for a camp in Montreal up north in the Laurentain Mountains over vacation. She not only created the tennis program there, but was also supervisor there last summer.

Due to her enthusiasm, her spirit and her determination, Stober is an integral part of the Brandeis women's tennis team. What Stober has to say on the subject of tennis says it all: "It's worth it.