The Brandeis men's and women's tennis teams both labored through periods of inconsistency last season, eventually ending with records of 8-12 and 10-9 respectively.

The men's team then earned the sixth seed at the University Athletic Association Championships and a match against third-ranked Washington University in St. Louis. The team dropped the match 9-0, and following a 6-3 loss to New York University, had the opportunity to end the season on a high note against the University of Rochester. The Judges took care of business with a 6-3 victory.

The women, who dropped three of their final four matches of the regular season, entered the UAA Championships ranked No. 24 in the country. The team dropped their opening match to 10th ranked WashU, but then, recovered with back to back wins against Rochester and Case Western Reserve University to secure fifth place at the championships. The women's team also sent the doubles team of Faith Broderick '13 and Carley Cooke '15 to the NCAA Division III Doubles Championship, where they were ousted in their first round match 6-4, 6-4.

Yet, even following last season, coach Ben Lamanna remains excited for the possibilities of success in the upcoming year. He explained that the women's team, which enters the season ranked No. 24, can build on its successes of last year.

"We lost Broderick (to graduation), but we have a lot of depth and a lot of girls are excited about the depth," he said. "This is the highest ranked team Brandeis has ever had, with three All-Americans, and we'll try to make history."

The women's team graduated just one senior last year, and likewise has the benefit of seven upperclassmen for the upcoming year.

"There are a lot of seniors and opportunities for them to step up," said Lamanna, who pointed to new captain Marissa Lazar '14 to lead the pack.

The women's team opens the year with the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Regional at Williams College from September 27 to 29.

While the women retain the core of last year's team, the men's team has to work with a few new pieces.

"We graduated a huge chunk of the team, losing our first doubles team of Josh Jordan '13 and Steven Milo '13, but had one of the better recruiting classes we've ever had," said Lamanna. "It's going to be a young team, but we do have four seniors and we'll see what happens."
Coach Lamanna noted the loss of Alec Siegel '15, a cornerstone of the doubles team, to studying abroad, but showed confidence for the leadership abilities of its new captain Adam Brown '14.
"One thing we lacked was depth and I think we're getting better with that," Lamanna said of the young core of the men's team. "Our guys have been working hard."

Even without Siegel, the men's team shouldn't be short on mentors for its incoming first-years. Along with Brown, standout sophomores Mitch Krems '16 and Danny Lubarsky '16 will look to lead the charge for the Judges.

The men's team begins their season at the Middlebury College Invitational from September 13 to 15, before heading to the ITA Regionals on September 27.

The tennis fall season-for both teams-is best used as a time to work on fundamentals and get a sense of where each player stands, according to Lamanna. The key, he explained, is to understand that "fall is an opportunity for guys to prove themselves."

Coach Lamanna primarily focuses the fall season on fitness as well as an opportunity to prepare for the rigorous spring season.

With a mix of returning and new faces on both of his teams this fall, Lamanna has high hopes for the upcoming year. The women's team has the tools to end the year within the top four at UAA Championships and the men's team has what Lamanna calls "an exciting group of first-years."

"There's a lot of unknowns and it will be exciting to see it unfold."