LEWISTON, Maine -- The Brandeis women's tennis team ranked #19 went on the road and defeated #37 Bates College, with a commanding 8-1 win. The Judges improve to 3-2 with the win, while Bates falls to 2-3.

The Judges came out strong in doubles play as senior Olivia Leavitt (Falmouth, Maine/Falmouth) and sophomore Lauren Bertsch (Middletown, R.I./LaSalle Academy) took an
8-4 win to put Brandeis on the board. At #2 junior Diana Dehterevich (Minsk, Belarus / Secondary School #185 of Minsk) and senior Keren Khromchenko (Manalapan, N.J./Academy of Allied Health and Sciences) played a tight match, but came out victorious in the tie-breaker, taking the win, 8-7 (7-4). At #3 senior Sophia He (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Spackenkill) and rookie
Ana Hatfield (Rockford, Ill./Boylan Central Catholic) completed the sweep for the Judges taking a 8-6 victory.

Heading into singles action, the Judges first and only loss came at #1 but were able to win the next 5 straight. Senior Leavitt got things going with a victory at #2 as she picked up a 6-2, 7-6, win, in front of a home-state crowd. At #2 it was senior Khromchenko who came out on top in three sets, 7-6 (9-7), 4-6, 6-3. At #4 it was sophomore Bertsch who picked up a 6-1, 6-1, victory, while senior He handled her own taking a 6-4, 7-5, victory at #5. Finally coming in at #6 to end the day for the Judges was Michele Lehat (Great Neck, N.Y. / John L. Miller Great Neck North) who only played one set since the match was already clinched by the Judges. She won the first set 6-3.

The Judges are back in action this Saturday at home against MIT, at 12:00 p.m.

-- by Camila Casanueva '21