Kaufman's easygoing outlook is contagious.

"St. makes the whole thing a better experience for everyone," Boss says.

But no matter how much friendship and team camaraderic develop, problem can arise when it all comes down to who's going to be on the court and who's going to be on the bench. Predictably, there was some potential trouble in paradise this spring as the team began to compete for starting positions.

Kaufman found herself fighting for one of the two remaining singles slots with sophomore Kirsten Beske and newcomer Austrian.

"It was a potentially uneasy situation," Austrian says. "But she's such a friendly person that she made it [the situation] totally congenial."

Although she was on the brink of being unseated from her starting spot. Kaufman rose above the pressure.

"There was a lot of tension--but she didn't feel any tension, because she's a 100 percent team player," Austrian says.

Kaufman plays for kicks, and for the team, but she is still a fierce competitor.

"You'll get a fight from her to the very last point every time," Usher says.

Perhaps her most impressive victory this season was a come-from-behind three-set at Santa Barbara--a match the team needed to squeak out its 5-4 victory.

"She just gutses out a lot of matches," Boss says.

And Kaufman, who has led her team to a 5-3 record thus far (1-0 in the Ivies), is one tough competition. "She'll play sick, she'll play hurt," Usher says, "and you can count on her, day in and day out to give 110 percent."

Even when she's not scrapping out on the court, Kaufman can be counted on for her friendship. "Everybody just feels so much closer to her than anyone else on the team, Vigna says.

Kaufman always rolls out the welcome mat to freshman. "I didn't feel like a freshman, a newcomer," Austrian says, "Everyone gets along with her--I don't know what we'll do when she's gone."

Good question. One thing is for certain, though--there'll be some big sneakers to fill.