The Harvard women's tennis team, ranked 25th in the nation, received unexpected news this week as it tuned up for its first matches of the fall season.

Senior Co-Captain Christina Dragomirescu announced that she will be taking a hiatus from tennis at least through the fall season. Senior Niki Rival will assume the role of captain for the fall season.

"This summer I actually considered taking some time off," Dragomirescu said. "Tennis-wise, I had a very successful summer, but I felt like I was missing out on so many things. I was beginning to feel like I had to play tennis."

Aside from applying to law schools and looking into fellowships during her break from tennis, she intends to spend time taking part in other activities on campus.

"I'm a very intense person, and I never do things halfway," Dragomirescu said. "I feel like I've given it all to tennis for so long and not much to anything else. I just want to take some time away and reflect on what I want to do with or without tennis."

The news is disappointing after Dragomirescu enjoyed one of her strongest seasons last spring. This summer, she reached the finals of the New York State Clay Court Championships in Forest Hills, N.Y. and the National Amateur Championships in Kiamesha Lake, N.Y. Teamed with Harvard teammate Jennifer Minkus, Dragomirescu advanced to the semifinals in the doubles competition at Forest Hills.

Having played such an integral role on the team, she admits to being a little ambivalent about a decision which must have required a lot of reflection.

"It's really hard being away from tennis because I will miss the team," Dragomirescu said. "For me, that's what [collegiate] tennis is all about. But I'm also here to study and learn. I just have to try to get back in touch with some of the other aspects of my life."

Harvard's other co-captain, Jamie Henikoff, is spending the fall semester studying in Spain.

Cry Not the Beloved Crimson

Despite these travails, Harvard is expected to put in a strong showing at the Syracuse Invitational in upstate New York this weekend. This year the number of teams participating has been winnowed down to 13 (from the traditional 16) because of a plethora of injuries to three squads.

Junior Amy deLone will be filling in for Dragomirescu in the first flight in the singles competition. Last year she emerged as the champion of the second flight, upsetting top-seeded Lauren Fortgang of Brown in straight sets in the final.