Brandeis women's tennis sweeps Bentley, 9-0, on Senior Day

Seniors Isabel Cepeda, Lauren Bertsch and Rachel Zubrinsky before their final home match
Seniors Isabel Cepeda, Lauren Bertsch and Rachel Zubrinsky before their final home match

WALTHAM, Mass. – The Brandeis University women's tennis team wrapped up its home schedule today with a 9-0 win over cross-town rival Bentley at the Cordish Tennis Center. The Judges improve to 2-1 on the campaign, while the Falcons fall to 2-8.

The Judges started off with a doubles sweep. Junior Ana Hatfield (Rockford, Ill. / Boylan Central Catholic) and rookie Ella Subramanian (Parkland, Fla. / Laurel Springs) opened things up with an 8-2 win at #2, while seniors Lauren Bertsch (Middletown, R.I. / LaSalle Academy) and Isabel Cepeda (Mason, Ohio / William Mason) won, 8-5, at #1. Junior transfer Olivia Howe (Cary, N.C. / Crossroads Flex) and first-year Nikita Salkar (Mumbai, India / Mourataglou Tennis Academy) wrapped things up with a late break of serve for an 8-6 win at #3.

In singles action, the Judges did not drop a set, winning three sets at love and another five with just one game lost. Cepeda dropped just one game total in her 6-0, 6-1, win at #5 that ultimately clinched victory. Hatfield lost just two games in a 6-1, 6-1, win at #2 that clinched the team's fourth point. Bertsch cruised, 6-3, 6-1, at #1. Salkar and Subramanian won by identical 6-0, 6-4, scores at #3 and #4, respectively. Howe wrapped up the scoring with a 6-1, 6-3, victory at #6.

Before the match, the Judges honored their three seniors, Bertsch, Cepeda and Rachel Zubrinsky (Waxhaw, N.C./Marvin Ridge), who were playing in the final home match of their careers.

Brandeis will close out its 2021 season on Saturday, May 8, at Williams College.