Jumbos coming off strong fall season

With the warm weather comes the opportunity for Tufts to showcase one of its most consistently competitive athletic teams. Being ranked among the top teams in the nation may be rare to many teams on this campus, but for the women's tennis team, it's just business as usual.

Going into the spring season, coach Jim Watson has already had a means of evaluating his squad's prospects not available to other sports. That is because the team plays two seasons, one in the fall and one in the spring.

Tufts is coming off a successful fall season that saw it go undefeated in eight matches. The team finished the season ranked third in the nation, behind only Emory University and Washington and Lee University. The Jumbos were 46-2 in singles matches, as well as 20-4 in doubles.

This spring season will be difficult, as the team is looking to take down a most challenging trio of teams: NESCAC foes Williams and Amherst, as well as national number one Emory. During the fall NEWITT championships, it was these first two teams that stood between Tufts and the title. Add to that the fact that Williams stood in the way of the Jumbos earning the NESCAC Championship last year, and it's no surprise that Tufts will be gunning for the Ephs. As the spring season begins, the Jumbos have a title on their minds.

* by Chris Munsey