Haddonfield trio wins state tennis titles

October 21, 2011|By Phil Anastasia, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
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  • Taylor Ng, Haddonfield's No. 1 singles player in tennis. (Phil Anastasia / Staff)
  • Taylor Ng, Haddonfield's No. 1 singles player in tennis. (Phil Anastasia / Staff)
  • Haddonfield's Victoria Martinez and Catherine Senopoulos won two matches at first doubles. (Phil Anastasia/Staff)

Three was the magic number for Haddonfield girls' tennis on Friday.

Three players won state titles as junior Taylor Ng captured the singles crown and senior Catherine Senopoulos teamed with sophomore Victoria Martinez to take the doubles championship at Mercer County Park.

Three also was the key number for Senopoulos, who won her first title in her third trip to the state finals.

"I didn't let myself get nervous this time," Senopoulos said. "I just told myself to relax and play my best. It was an amazing feeling."

Senopoulos and Martinez scored a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Lauren Byrket and Alicia Lai of Holmdel. It was the third time that the Haddonfield team beat the Holmdel team this season.

Story continues below.

"It was great to win it with my partner," Martinez said. "When we won the match, she [Senopoulos] was just overjoyed with emotions. I was so happy to be able to help her win this title because it meant so much to her."

Senopoulos has a 40-0 record this season. Martinez is 39-0. The two girls are 26-0 in matches they have played together.

"To win 6-1, 6-1 in the state final, that's pretty dominant at this level," Haddonfield coach Jeff Holman said.

Ng won by a 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 score over Joanna Zalewski of Linden.

Ng said she "refocused" after the second set.

"I took the full 10 minutes," Ng said of the allotted time between sets. "I knew I had to put the second set behind me. I concentrated on doing my best on every point, every shot."

Holman said Ng didn't falter even after Zalewski appeared to seize command of the match in the second set.

"Taylor never showed signs of nerves," Holman said. "She just relaxed and played her best."

Ng, who improved to 30-0, is Haddonfield's first singles champion, boy or girl. Senopoulos and Martinez are also the school's first doubles champions.

In addition, Haddonfield is the first girls' program to have both the singles and doubles champions in the same season.

Haddonfield (28-0) won its fourth consecutive Group 2 state title on Thursday. The Bulldogs will play in the Tournament of Champions on Tuesday, when they are likely to face Non-Public A champion Red Bank Catholic.

The Results

NJSIAA SINGLES

Final

 Taylor Ng, Haddonfield, d. Joanna Zalewski, Linden, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3.

NJSIAA DOUBLES

Final

 Catherine Senopoulos and Vitoria Martinez, Haddonfield, d. Lauren Byrket and Alicia Lai, Holmdel, 6-1, 6-1

 


Contact staff writer Phil Anastasia at 856-779-3223, panastasia@phillynews.com, or@PhilAnastasia on Twitter. Read his blog, "Jersey Side Sports," at www.philly.com/jerseysidesports

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