Several fresh faces will join the top-ranked players returning to the Brandeis men's and women's tennis squads to open the Fall 2004 season. Since the women's team lost only two seniors to gradation, the incoming talent on the women's side will build on the strong foundation left from last year.

The Judges won seven out of eight of their last matches and defeated Carnegie Mellon to finish third in the UAA in the 2003-04 season. Abby Lerner '05 is returning as captain along with Shani Reich '06 as co-captain. Lerner, a three-year All-UAA player, was the only non-Emory player to make the All-UAA first team last season. The Texas native was also a National All-American Scholar and the entire women's team earned the Academic All-American team honor with a 3.5 average GPA.

UAA Rookie of the Year Jenn Krueger '07 will also be returning to compete for the Judges this fall.

With so many returning players, Coach Rocky Jarvis was firm in his goals for the women this season.

"We want to earn a top-seven seat to qualify for the national tournament," he said. "This is clearly our goal, and it's very attainable if everyone works hard and knows what they're aiming for."

Jarvis also has high standards for Lerner and Krueger this season.

"I am absolutely dedicated to making sure they qualify for nationals," he said.

The fall season is important for the women because their ranking at the end of October determines whether the team will qualify for subsequent tournaments. The rankings are based on coaches' votes, and this season there will be two big tournaments where the Judges' talent will be showcased. The first will be the ITA National Coaches Association Tournament at Williams College in September. Since the tournament coincides with Yom Kippur, the team will be depleted; however, Jarvis still hopes to finish in the top two or three.

The women will close out their season at the Northeastern Small College Championships in October. The Judges have finished in the top five each of the past two years in this prestigious tournament.

Other critical matches for the women include Connecticut College, cross-town rival, Bentley College and MIT. MIT will be especially motivated this year after falling to the Judges 7-2 at home last season.

The key to success for the women this season will be their solid numbers on the bench.

"We have enough depth to challenge every team," Jarvis said. With at least three new recruits entering the ranks this year, the Judges will have nine or 10 very talented players players. Colleen Donnelly '08, Ana Katz '08 and Michal Gross '08 have each committed to Brandeis and, according to Jarvis, will all be competing for starting positions as first-year students.

The men, who also won Academic All-American team honors, will have three captains this year with Robert Friedman '06, Seth Green '05 and Chris Hersel '06 leading the Judges into their demanding Fall season. Last year the men played eight out of the 20 best teams in the country and were the only non-Division I team invited to the West Point Tournament.

This season the men will be hosting a tournament on Sept. 17-19 where they will play several Division II teams such as Queens College, Franklin Pierce College and Wheaton College. On Sept. 28, they will play rival Amherst, who narrowly defeated the Judges 4-3 last year.

"It's time, well, past time, for us to beat them," Jarvis said.

Other important matches include MIT and the Invitational Singles/Doubles Tournament at Bates College that will wrap up the men's Fall season.

The men have several returning players including UAA Rookie of the Year Sam Jonas '07 of Toronto. He ended last season with a marvelous victory over the No. 1 player from Emory while nursing a knee injury. He had an operation this summer and is planning on coming back full force this fall.

At least three other men will challenge Jonas for the top spot on the team. Tomas Wallenberg '05, Michael Vulfovich '07 and Jonas's high school teammate, Jamie Metrick '07 have been training this summer and will maintain a healthy competitive spirit between the Judges.

"Whoever works hardest will earn the top seat which is good because they will get better by challenging each other," Jarvis said.

The men will host the UAA Championships this year where they will be able to show off the newly renovated tennis facilities at Brandeis. Currently, four courts are being rebuilt, and two brand-new courts are under construction. By the end of September, Brandeis will be home to 12 courts, six of which will be open for recreational use to students. There will also be plenty of room for fans on the new bleachers surrounding the courts.

"We've had tremendous support from the administration in terms of recruiting budgets and courts," Jarvis said.

With support from the student body, it looks as though the tennis squads will bring a lot of excitement to the Brandeis campus this fall.

"The men and women are going to come out swinging this year, and I'm really excited," Jarvis said.