Cherry Hill East defeats Millville, 5-0, for South Jersey Group 4 girls' tennis title

Jamie Silverberg is finishing her high school tennis career the same way she started: As a key player for a South Jersey Group 4 champion.

Silverberg's 6-1, 6-0 win at first singles on Monday sparked fifth-seeded Cherry Hill East to a 5-0 victory over second-seeded Millville in the South Jersey Group 4 championship match at Kingsway High School.

"It's awesome to end my high school career this way," said Silverberg, who defeated Millville's Amanda Hickman on a windy afternoon. "To have this experience with my teammates is awesome."

Silverberg was a No. 2 singles player as a freshman when Cherry Hill East won its last sectional title in 2008. She has been a No. 1 singles player for the last three seasons and has more than 100 career victories. But the Cougars were rebuilding a bit in 2009 and 2010.

Even this season, Cherry Hill East wasn't the favorite to capture the South Jersey title.

"I can honestly say I didn't expect this," Silverberg said. "But that makes it even better. We've worked so hard to get this far."

As the No. 5 seed, Cherry Hill East defeated No. 1 Toms River North, No. 4 Vineland, and No. 2 Millville in the sectional tournament. The Cougars advanced to Wednesday's state semifinals at Mercer County Park.

"I'm so happy that Jamie gets a chance to go up north and compete against those girls," Cherry Hill East coach Mary Jewett said. "She's never lost a team match her entire career. When we step off the bus, we're ahead, 1-love, because we have her."

The Cougars also got straight-set victories from No. 2 singles Allyson Wolf, who won by a 7-6 (7-4), 6-1 score as well as No. 3 singles Amanda Elfman, who won by a 6-4, 6-2 score.

The Cougars' second doubles teams of Tyler Haaz and Paige Leone won by a 6-1, 6-1 score, while the first doubles team of Allie Haaz and Nikita Shukla battled through a long match and emerged with 6-2, 6-7 (7-5), 6-2 victory.

"These girls have worked hard," Jewett said. "They deserve it."

Cherry Hill East 5, Millville 0

Singles: Jamie Silverberg def. Amanda Hickman, 6-1, 6-0; Allyson Wolf def. Emily Corson, 7-6 (7-4), 6-1; Amanda Elfman def. Erin Chard, 6-4 6-2.

Doubles: Allie Haaz and Nikita Shukla def. Danielle Mazzola and Brooke Thompson, 6-2, 6-7 (7-5), 6-2; Tyler Haaz and Paige Leone def. Chelsea Charlesworth and Noelle Brecht, 6-1, 6-1.