Thursday at Gosman, the Brandeis men's tennis team recovered in a big way from a disappointing 7-0 loss to arch-rival Tufts, defeating Wheaton College 5-1 and snapping the Lyons' ten-match winning streak. "The guys came out super-ready to beat up on Wheaton (11-1 overall)," Head Coach Rocky Jarvis said, "and we were able to crunch them, in the process getting Dave Yang '03 his first official singles match, which is important because we may need him later in the year."

While Yang fell to Wheaton's Mike Moss 6-4 6-3, other Judges were far more successful on the afternoon. At first singles, Tomas Wallenberg '05 defeated Matt Sheers 6-1 6-3; Dave Block went to three sets with Wheaton's Scott Longmire before prevailing 6-1, 3-6, 6-2.

Chris Hersel '06, who defeated Ian Peck 6-3, 6-1 at fourth singles, feels as though the Judges are ready to hit their stride. "In the Wheaton match," the first-year said, "we were able to play strong tennis throughout the lineup and pull out the win. While we would like to have played better in our early-season losses to Tufts, Bates and Pomona, the Wheaton win gives us a much-needed confidence boost."

Saturday versus Drew University, the Judges triumphed over the visitors from the Garden State in what Jarvis called a "God-awful, gut-wrenching victory."

After the Rangers took two of three doubles matches (the tandem of J.D. Spina and Julian Fuller surprised Wallenberg and Hersel), Brandeis recovered to take the crucial singles draw.

"We won in an unusual way for us," Jarvis remarked, "because the guys at the top of the ladder came through in a big way."

At first singles, Wallenberg topped Drew's J.D. Spina 6-4, 6-4; at second singles, Block took out the Rangers' Julian Fuller 6-3, 7-5.

While Drew's Anthony Carreras outlasted Brandeis' Alan Berk '04 6-4, 7-6 (8) at third singles, Ranger Aaron McCormick (a Boston native) defeated Yehuda Hausman (GRAD) in three grueling sets (6-3, 4-6, 6-2).

In the decisive singles match, Brandeis' Hart Comess-Daniels topped Drew senior Josh Curran 6-2, 5-7, 7-5, to give the Judges their second consecutive indoor victory.

"Block and Wallenberg both had solid wins that set us up to win the match," said Hersel, "and then Hart Comess-Daniels came up with the key win of the day that gave us the fourth point and sealed the victory. He played a tight and gutsy match."

"After the wins over Wheaton and Drew, team morale is high," Hersel added, "and we now have the confidence we need going into the UAAs in late April (at Washington University).