Without even competing in an Ivy League match for the women's teninis team, freshman Neha Uberoi established herself last weekend as one of the rising stars in the League, advancing to the quarterfinals of the Omni Hotel Eastern Regional tournament in Cambridge by defeating top-seeded Alice Pirsu of Penn.
Uberoi, who had already lost to Pirsu during the fall, played aggres sively from the baseline, varying the depth of her powerful groundstrokes. Behind a strong service game, Uberoi kept rallies short and committed few errors, not allowing Pirsu to get any rhythm.
Uberoi was one of two members of the women's tennis team competing in the tournament. Senior Kavitha Krishnamurthy — the other Tiger in the tournament — won the regional as a freshman and advanced to the semifinals as a sophomore, but only advanced to the round of 16 this year.
Looking ahead to the spring, head coach Louise Gengler explained that the team will be bolstered by the return of two key players —Neha's older sister, Shikha, and junior Avantika Bhargava.
Shikha, who played No. 2 singles two seasons ago, and Bhargava, who played No. 1 doubles last year, will both likely contribute in singles and doubles matches in the spring. In addition, freshman Rankin Williams, out all fall with an ankle injury, has started playing again and will be in the mix at both singles and doubles.
Though two-time defending Ivy League champion Penn and last year's runner-up Harvard look tough to beat, the Tigers hope to improve on their third-place finish from last season.
"We had a good fall. We're quietly sitting in pretty good shape," Gengler said.
With the return of Shikha, Bhargava, and Wiliams, and the continued stellar play of Neha and Krishnamurthy, the Tigers appear ready for a serious run for the title.
The men's Omni Hotel Regional tournament was held last weekend in Philadelphia. Five singles players and three doubles teams represented the squad in the main draw of the tournament.
In the singles competition, senior Trevor Smith advanced the farthest for the Tigers, losing in the round of 16 to a lower-seeded Harvard player. Despite the loss, coach Glenn Michibata was pleased with Smith's play.
"He played pretty good tennis. I'm real happy with how he played," Michibata said.
Freshman Darius Craton and sophomore Josh Burman both advanced to the round of 32 in singles.
On the doubles side, the team of Craton and sophomore David Gopstein advanced to the quarterfinals, beating Yale's No. 1 team before being ousted by the tournament's top-seeded duo. The tandem of Burman and junior Tim Kofol advanced to the round of 16.
Looking forward to the spring season and Ivy League competition, Michibata explained that Harvard appears to be the strongest team, as the Crimson returns almost everyone from the conference runner-up team last spring. Reigning conference champion Brown appears vulnerable after losing its top two singles players and its head coach from last spring.
"We're the strongest challenge to Harvard," Michibata said.
Crucial to the Tigers' success in the spring will be the development of the doubles teams.
"My main concern [coming into the fall] was the doubles. I know the guys can play good singles," Michibata said.
The coach has been tinkering with the doubles lineups throughout the fall. With a strong doubles showing in the spring, the Tigers may be able to defeat Harvard and win the league.
"I think if we're all healthy and playing well in the spring, the Ivy title should come down to us and Harvard.
"That's a great position to be in. The title is within our reach, but it will be competitive across the league," Smith said.
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