The women's tennis team took a small step forward at the University Athletic Association championships this weekend in Cleveland, but nearly made even greater strides during a grueling final day.The Judges dropped a 5-4 marathon in the fifth-place match against Washington University in St. Louis Saturday, ending the tournament in sixth place after a seventh-place finish last season. Earlier in the competition, the Judges suffered a 9-0 first-round loss to the University of Chicago Friday and scored a 9-0 second-round victory over the University of Rochester earlier Saturday. Brandeis is now 9-8 on the season.

"Everyone played their hearts out," coach Ben Lamanna said. "They were running on fumes out there, and there was just some tremendous stuff going on there that makes you proud to coach them."

Despite tying her match at a set apiece, Ana Katz '08 couldn't follow through on the Judges' comeback, falling 6-1 in the third set of the deciding match against Wash U.

With the Judges and Bears tied at four matches apiece, Katz needed to defeat rookie Allison Dender to give Brandeis the victory.

Katz lost the first set 6-2, but came back to win the second set 6-4. She ran out of gas in the third set, however, as Dender jumped ahead 3-0 and never relinquished the lead.

"[Dender] just did not miss a single ball," Katz said. "She picked it up another notch, and it's hard to take control of a point."

Each point was a struggle in a match that lasted well over three hours. The two players engaged in several long rallies, some of which lasted well over 30 shots, Katz said.

"I was able to wait [and] set up to go for the winner [in the second set], and in the first set, I was going for the winner too early," Katz said. "I didn't play as patiently as I should have [in the third set]."

Although Katz's loss prevented the team from finishing in fifth place, the team took a late comeback to even the score. The Judges lost two of three doubles matches and fell behind 4-2.

Colleen Donnelly '08 fell 6-4, 6-3 to senior Erin Fleming at No. 1 singles, and Emily Weisberger '10 stumbled against rookie Elise Dorsett at No. 6 singles 6-2, 6-3.

But the Judges fought back in their singles lineup to tie the match temporarily.

Helfgott won her match in straight sets at No. 3 singles and Ariana Sanai '10 rallied to defeat rookie Stephanie Paul 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 at No. 4 singles.

Then, Jenicka Hornung '07, playing in the final UAA match of her career, scrapped her way to a tight 7-6 (3), 7-6 (3) victory over sophomore Julie Bowerman to tie the match.

"My strongest asset was hitting high, loopy groundstrokes," Hornung said.

"I kept pushing [Bowerman] back into the fence by hitting with a lot of topspin, and I stayed very consistent."

Prior to that match, the Judges, who entered the tournament as the sixth seed, were on the opposite side of two blowouts.

In Friday's first round, they were shut out by third-seeded University of Chicago, failing to pick up a set in the singles competition.

"We didn't match up too well against [Chicago]," Lamanna said.

"They play really good doubles, have good talent at the top, and they got better from last year. We really didn't get into a groove all day long, and they didn't let us."

The Judges rebounded in the first consolation round Saturday, however, by shutting out seventh-seeded University of Rochester. They won every set of the singles competition as Katz and Helfgott dropped only three games combined in their matches at No. 2 and No. 3 singles, respectively.

The women's team closes its season Wednesday at home against Connecticut College at 3 p.m.