Second year Scotch Plains Fanwood Tennis Coach Sandra Miller does not consider herself any kind of clairvoyant, but her preseason prediction of a slow start with a strong finish perfectly handicapped her team’s season.
The Raiders bounced back from a 1-4 start to finish with a 10-7 mark as many of their young and inexperienced players continued to improve as the season transpired.
Seniors Kiara Thomas and Jaclyn (Jaci) were the only players to enter the season with significant varsity experience and although broken up from playing doubles they each had competitive seasons on second and third singles respectively.
Thomas finished 4-7 and Lopez was 6-7, but that far from tells the whole stories of their seasons. As the only two seniors on the team, Miller appreciated all the little extra attributes the pair brought to the team.
“They showed our team how to find food and eat before every match. They attended almost all of our matches and Jaci ordered the best tennis uniform the Scotch Plains
Fanwood girls tennis team has ever worn,” said Miller, who added:
“Kiara and Jaci also made sure that the end of the season tradition of toilet papering of my house was accomplished, despite many projects, papers and assorted school work.
They all left their signatures and many thank yous for a great tennis
season on my driveway with chalk.”
“Playing tennis here the last four years was very enjoyable,” said Lopez.
“I think that all our talented young players will make this team very tough the next few years.”
The Raiders ended the season with a night victory over Kearny under the lights at
Kramer Manor tennis courts on October 30th. Six of their seven losses were to teams that spent some or all of the season among the state’s top twenty, including two to arch rival Westfield.
“We started the season with some very tough matches,” said Miller.
“For some reason the start of the season was not smooth, however, by
our fifth match we were beginning to feel like a team and we were winning most of our late season matches.”
An influx of new players caused Miller to repeatedly change her lineup. Junior Kathleen Yan emerged from playing few matches as a sophomore to rising to first singles and finishing with a 3-8 record.
“She took her lumps this year. Moving up to first singles isn’t easy even if you played second singles a year ago but Kathy learned many things this year that should help her next season,” said Miller.
Sophomore Sahrula Kubie and Freshman Alex Szczuka were the regulars duo at first doubles and posted a 5-5 record, while Juniors Courtney Bifani and Rachel Kreyer at second doubles compiled a 6-3 record.
“I hope to see Courtney and Rachel improve over the next months and come to
Varsity tennis with another winning attitude,” said Miller.
In a late season match at Cranford, Szczuka showed her potential with a 6-1, 6-1 victory at third singles and Miller expects her and Kubie to take over the second and third singles slots next season.
Junior Maya Robinson. Sophomore Emily Katz and Freshman Neha Pannuri also filled in successfully wherever needed... Robinson was undefeated in four singles matches. and Katz and Pannuri won all three of their singles matches.
While enthusiastic about the future, Miller realizes that her players must understand that proficiency at high school tennis is a full year endeavor.
“I have suggested that those who are serious about improving their
tennis game, should play in USTA tournaments through out the year,” said Miller.
Monday, November 20, 2006
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