“Game. Set. Match. Brandeis!” Take your rackets out and throw on your tennis shoes because it’s time to play tennis. Brandeis’ Club Tennis team has been taking campus by storm. With 138 members on their Campus Groups page, the team has doubled in size from its 62 members last year.
The Brandeis Hoot had the opportunity to speak with Clara Kursinski ’26, member of the Tennis Club and Tournament Coordinator for the club. The Hoot served questions down the tee and she sent them right back up the alley.
“Coming to college I knew I wanted to play tennis, so at the club fair I looked for a tennis booth and signed up and started going to practices. I’ve played tennis for almost eight years and played all four years in high school and I wanted to continue,” said Kursinski.
After playing with the club for a semester, Kursinski moved up from being a member to serving on the club’s E-Board. On the E-Board she works as the Tournament Coordinator. In this position, she explained to The Hoot, she works to help run practices and plan events for the club.
The club has 32 competitive members who have come in with experience, though the club accepts people of all different playing abilities. Students’ abilities range from novices to seasoned veterans. During practices, students can play against each other in singles and doubles matches as well as going through drills to work on form.
In addition to practices, the club also plays in tournaments against other universities’ club teams. Kursinski said, “One of my favorite experiences was competing in sectionals last semester. We took a group of players in a BranVan and drove to and from the tournament at Smith [College]. It was really fun to play in, and it was a great experience for the team to play together and cheer each other on.”
The club also hosts an event at Brandeis in the Fall called Slice-n-Deis. The club typically competes against three or more club teams and will travel to play in matches against them. Last semester, the club took a trip to Alabama for the U.S. Southern Invitational. There they played against seven teams in a tournament of 62 teams. The selected club members placed first in their group. This semester they intend to head to Berkley for the Cowtown Showdown to play against around 50 teams.
This semester the club has seven matches lined up for their members. Players are selected to go based off of their playing ability. The club competes in co-ed singles and doubles matches.
“For people wanting to join the club, I’d definitely recommend sending an email and coming to an open practice, we’d love to have anyone interested come!” said Kursinski. Open practice times are still being decided but are likely to be held on Saturdays from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Kursinski said that open practices will likely begin when the weather gets better and the club has access to the outdoor playing courts.
So grab your friends and hit the courts with your friends and the Tennis Club. You’re sure to have a rackety time!
