Mired in a four?match losing streak and coming off a disheartening loss to Trinity, the men's tennis team knew it couldn't let another one slip through the cracks. The team entered its Monday afternoon matchup with Brandeis intent on ending that streak and rectifying the recent swoon.
"We said that we needed to turn this around," sophomore Matt Pataro said. "We used that slide as fuel."
The Jumbos rose to the occasion, finishing off the Judges, 6?3, in a match that has the team feeling far more confident heading into the final stretch of the season.
The players' confidence had been shaken last Thursday by an 8?1 defeat to Trinity, a match that Tufts knew was key in its quest to qualify for the NESCAC tournament. Four of the six singles matches went to three sets in the loss to the Bantams, but the Jumbos struggled to convert their opportunities to put games and sets away.
"It was really disappointing because everyone was in every one of those matches, and for whatever reason none of us were able to pull through," Pataro said. "We weren't clutch enough."
The sobering loss led to a somber team meeting after the match, where the players discussed ways to end their skid with a victory against the Judges.
The talk paid off, and the Jumbos came into Monday's showdown in the Gantcher Center feeling more composed. They immediately took a 2?1 lead in doubles play.
Throughout the season, the team has been plagued by an inability to finish off its most important points, but senior co?captain Morrie Bossen and junior Mark Westerfield bucked that trend at the number?three doubles spot.
Down a break early, the duo staved off match points at 6?7 and 7?8 before sending the match to a tiebreaker that it eventually finished off, 9?8 (7). Bossen said it was one of the most exciting matches he had even been a part of.
Not only did the victory lift the players' spirits, but it also swung momentum in the Jumbos' favor, giving them a 2?1 lead heading into singles action.
"In singles, the main difference was that we came out really confident," Pataro said. "We knew we were better than them and that if we played how we'd been practicing we could beat this team."
After Pataro and sophomore Austin Blau gave Tufts a 4?3 lead, freshman Brian Tan finished off the match in the number?six singles position, 6?2, 6?4.
"For a freshman, I was so impressed with Brian for being able to handle that pressure and play such a focused match," Bossen said. "He was so composed. It was very impressive."
Senior co?captain Sam Laber also took his match, as the No. 3 through No. 6 players all notched wins to anchor singles for the Jumbos in a demonstration of the depth that the team has lacked in the past.
"Morale is pretty good after this one," Bossen said. "It was a good win for the team."
That confidence will be much needed for a team facing its two most important contests in the next week. On Friday afternoon, Tufts will travel to Bates with its back against the wall a match. A trip to NESCACs will be on the line against the Bobcats.
"The Bates match is our season," Bossen said. "For me and Sam [Laber] we really want to extend our season into postseason play. Recently, [the Bobcats] haven't had their best results, so we're hoping that we get them on a day where they're not playing their best."
If Tufts wins the match against Bates, it will still have to defeat Colby next week to secure a playoff berth.
Pataro noted that, against the Judges, the Jumbos made sure that their opponents had to work for every point. He stressed the need for that same energy against the Bobcats later this week.
Against Brandeis, Tufts was able to control the pivotal points in each match. Now, the Jumbos will need to come up big once again, this time with their postseason lives at stake.
