WALTHAM, Mass. – With only four available players due to campus COVID-19 protocols, the Brandeis University women's tennis team dropped a close 5-4 decision to University Athletic Association rivals from the University of Rochester today. With the loss, the Judges fall to 3-6 on the season, while the Yellowjackets improve to 2-2.

The Judges took the lead after doubles, 2-1, with wins in the two matches contested At #2, first-year Anastasia Sia (Thessaloniki, Greece / Anatolia College) and sophomore Jiayi Zhang (Shanghai, China / Shanghai International) were 8-4 winners over Olivia Waysack and Jaclyn Dron. At #1, the team of first-year Bhakti Parwani (Ahmedabad, India / Kumkum School) and sophomore Ella Subramanian (Parkland, Fla. / Laurel Springs) emerged with an 8-7 win, taking the tiebreaker, 7-3, against Cami Ruiz Vega and Josephine Libby. The Brandeis pair survived despite Parwani suffering a mild injury during the match.

In singles play, UR was granted a 3-2 lead as the Judges were unable to field players at #5 and #6. Sia blitzed Rochester's Shreya Mandalapu, 6-0, 6-0, to tie the match at 3-3, but the Yellowjackets were able to rally at the top two spots. Ruiz Vega avenged her loss to Subramanian, 6-1, 6-1, at #2. Libby was able to defeat a slowed Parwani, 6-4, 6-3, to clinch victory for the visitors. Brandeis got the final point at #4 with a single set, as Zhang knocked off Stephanie Kim, 6-2.

Brandeis returns to action on Sunday, March 27, at 2 p.m. against  #34-ranked Babson.