Not discouraged after a rough week away from home, the Brandeis men's tennis team intends to use their defeats as motivation as they launch into their rigorous winter training.The men traveled to Amherst, on Oct. 5 to challenge the Amherst College Lord Jeffs in the Judges' first game after their showing at the ITA Regionals. Brandeis was held to one victory in the competition, and headed home with a 7-0 loss, bringing their record to 1-1.

The solo win was earned at No. 1 doubles by Sam Jonas '07 and Tomas Wallenberg '05. The doubles team handily defeated Lenny Lepner and Geoff Schwartz of Amherst 8-4.

Two days later, the Judges traveled to Cambridge to face off with no. 17 ranked MIT Engineers. Brandeis began the day with two out of three wins in the doubles competitions. Mike Vulfovich '07 and doubles teammate Jamie Metrick '07 overtook their No. 2 doubles opponents 8-6. Hart Comess-Daniels '06 and Jordan Bieber '07 followed suit with an 8-4 victory over the Beaver's No. 3 team.

"Mike and I were really happy with our performance against MIT," Metrick said. "Beating a strong team like that without much practice together as a doubles team really shows us how good of a doubles team we are capable of becoming."

The Judges faced unfaltering competition from MIT in singles play. Adam Sher '07 registered the only win in singles for the day against No. 5 player, Kevin Durand. Sher came back from an initial 2-6 loss to finish off Durand 6-1, 6-4.

Brandeis rounded out their fall season at the Wallach Invitational at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine last weekend. Full results will be available on the Brandeis website.

With no more matches to play until their spring season begins, the Judges will be holding captains' practices throughout the offseason.

"I really think we're good enough to make [the NCAA tournament] this year," Jonas said. "We have to get fit and stay healthy.