An inexperienced women's tennis team got a harsh taste of reality last week. The Judges had just one player win a first-round match at Friday's Intercollegiate Tennis Association Championship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Ana Katz '08. In the 64-player tournament, featuring many of the top women's tennis players in the league, the Judges' youth was evident.

"As a team, we were a bit nervous coming into these matches," Katz said. "We knew we would be up against some fierce competition."

On a team that lacks depth and is missing two significant experienced players, Jennifer Levine '08 and Colleen Donnelly '08, both studying abroad, coach Ben Lamanna described the limitations the Judges have until they mature.

"With every step that we take, it's never going to be easy," Lamanna said. "I just hope that our confidence keeps growing."

Heading into the competition Friday, none of the Judges had ever competed in the ITA Championship, and the team struggled in the first round. Katz had claimed the only victory for Brandeis, coming from behind to beat Wesleyan University sophomore Madalina Ursu in a super tiebreaker, 1-6, 6-3, 10-4.

"I had to self-analyze what was going on in the match, and figure out a way to change things around, and tell myself that I could make a big comeback," Katz said. "I changed my game plan and played more cautiously and consistently."

Gabrielle Helfgott '09 suffered a 6-3, 6-0 loss to senior Christine D'Elia of Bowdoin College, while Ariana Sanai '10 got hammered in a 6-0, 6-0 loss to Williams College rookie Allie Rottkamp.

In doubles play, Katz and captain Jenicka Hornung '07 fell 8-5 to the Middlebury College's fourth-seeded team of junior Amy Roche and sophomore Claire Smyser.

"We were making too many unforced errors," Hornung said.

Helfgott and Emily Weisberger '10 also suffered a tough defeat in doubles at the hands of rookie Leslie Hansen and senior Joanna MacKay of MIT, by the score of 8-2.

In the second round, Katz, who played No. 4 singles last year and has since stepped into the No. 1 spot, lost 6-0, 6-1 to fifth-seeded Allison Dunn, a rookie from Colby College.

"[Katz] came out real slow in both matches," Lamanna said.

The Judges next play when they host Bowdoin College, the 20th ranked team in New England, Oct 7 at 11 a.m.