Haddonfield looking to end T of C skid

Posted: October 21, 2012

The Haddonfield girls' tennis team doesn't lose very often.

So the Bulldogs tend to remember those rare occasions.

Haddonfield coach Jeff Holman says he believes two tough losses in the last two Tournament of Champions will serve to spark his undefeated team's drive for this season's all-groups title.

"Five of our seven starters participated in last year's T of C, which ended in a heartbreaking loss for us," Holman said. "I think that loss may give us some extra motivation as we approach this year's tournament."

Haddonfield (31-0), which won its fifth consecutive Group 2 state title on Wednesday, is the No. 1 seed in the Tournament of Champions, which will begin Sunday.

The Bulldogs have a bye to the semifinals. They will face the winner of Sunday's match between fifth-seeded Montclair Kimberley and fourth-seeded Pingry at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Garden State Tennis Center in Edison.

The other semifinal Tuesday will feature No. 2 seed Millburn, the Group 4 state champion, against the winner of Sunday's quarterfinal between third-seeded Mendham and sixth seed Pennsville.

The T of C title match will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Garden State Tennis Center.

Haddonfield won the T of C with an undefeated team in 2009. The Bulldogs lost in the T of C semifinals in both 2010 and 2011, both times by a 3-2 score to Red Bank Catholic and both times when their No. 3 singles player was hampered with leg cramps.

Haddonfield is 122-2 since 2009.

The Bulldogs are led by senior No. 1 singles Taylor Ng (20-0). Ng, who won the state singles title as a junior, opted not to participate in individual tournaments this season.

Juniors Amanda Lanciano (37-1) and Victoria Martinez (31-1) are the Nos. 2 and 3 singles players, respectively.

The first doubles team of junior Erica Pascocello (34-1) and sophomore Arpie Senopoulos (33-1) won the state doubles title on Tuesday. The second doubles team features senior Sylvia Strauss and freshman Chelsea Brown (both 33-4).

"Winning the T of C is a very difficult thing to do," Holman said. "If we bring our 'A' game for two matches, we will be one of the favorites to capture the title, but certainly other teams are capable of beating us if we are not sharp or the breaks do not go our way."


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

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