With their rackets restrung, the men's and women's tennis teams are ready to take the court and contend in the strong University Athletic Association. Both teams will look to further improve upon two impressive seasons in which the women finished the year at .500 and the men placed fourth in the UAA Championships. The women's team, which posted a final record of 10-10, had injuries to both Rachel Rosman '11 and co-captain Emily Weisberger '10 last year, often forcing the team to play shorthanded in matches.

This season, however, the women will start off with nine players. Despite losing co-captains Weisberger and Ariana Sanai '10 to graduation, the team's roster was replenished with four first-year recruits: Allyson Bernstein, Alexa Katz, Roberta Bergstein and Marissa Lazar '14.

With a larger and more experienced roster, Coach Ben Lamanna is intrigued by the team's chances this year.

"This is going to be a good year for the women," said Coach Ben Lamanna. "The team is more talented and much deeper than last year."

The women also return many key players from last season, including Rosman, Faith Broderick '13 and Mackenzie Gallegos '11. The three of them combined for 39 of the team's 62 singles wins and were part of 18 of the 29 doubles wins.

Lamanna also noted how impressed he was with the camaraderie of the team.

"The culture of the team is really friendly," he said. "Very competitive and driven but friendly and great to be around."

The men's squad retakes the court following its most successful season in more than six years and its best under Lamanna since he became coach in the 2005-2006 season.

The team will return all but one of its members, last season's captain Seth Rogers '10.

Lamanna said that the team would miss Rogers' presence but was confident that the current players could carry the team forward.

"[Rogers] was a great captain, but the core of the team is coming back," Lamanna said. "Most of [the returning players are] seniors with good character and leadership."

Last season, the Judges went 9-10 with six of their 10 losses at the hands of nationally ranked opponents. Their victories included Division I Bryant University, Division II Bentley University and nationally ranked Division III and UAA rival University of Chicago.

Steven Milo '13 and Dave Yovanoff '13, both second-team all-UAA selections, return to the team. The second doubles squad finished the season 6-5 last year. Milo also combined with Nick White '11, Simon Miller '11 and Fred Rozenshteyn '13 for 60 of the team's 88 singles wins. They were also part of 26 of the teams 34 wins at doubles.

Rozenshteyn was optimistic of the team's chances this year.

"We already have all the chemistry as a team, so now, we can just continue getting better as the season progresses, he said."

The team will also add a number of first-year recruits to the squad, but its full roster is still undetermined because it is still holding tryouts for walk-on players and recruits.

"We have a group of promising recruits," Lamanna said. "Nobody is yet in line for the top six spots, but [they] will grow with development."

Still, Lamanna is happy to have an experienced team.

"It's great to have a senior-laden team," he noted. "I get to sit back and watch them play without discipline being an issue. The guys are really hungry, and it is really important for them to develop individually and as a team."

The women start the season with a match against Wheaton College Sept. 15, while the men will be in action Sept. 10 when they travel to Middlebury College in the Middlebury Invitational.