Mustangs are contenders for tennis championships
BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

Dave Kretzmer sees similarities between the 2003 Marlboro High School girls tennis team and last spring’s boys squad.

And that’s not good news for opponents.

"I’m very comfortable all the way up and down the lineup," said Kretzmer. "It’s just like the boys."

Last spring, the boys enjoyed the top ranking in the state for much of the season and won their first-ever Group IV state championship, along with Shore Conference Tournament and Central Jersey Group IV titles.

Whether the girls can duplicate that this fall remains to be seen, but they certainly have a chance.

"We have high expectations," said Kretzmer, whose team is ranked fifth in the state. "We expect to be in the Shore Conference Tournament (SCT) final, and it would be a nice accomplishment if we could win it.

"I think we are the pick in Central Jersey and in Group IV — it’s between us and Cherry Hill East (third in the state)," he added. "I think we can compete with them."

There is good reason for Kretzmer’s optimism. He has almost his entire line-up back and everyone is playing down a position thanks to the addition of freshman Kendal Ruffner.

Kirstin Ruffner, now a sophomore, was All-Shore last fall at first singles, but is playing second singles this year because her younger sister, Kendal Ruffner, earned the position by winning their challenge match. While there is the expected sibling rivalry between them, they are making it a positive, according to Kretzmer.

They are team players as much as competitors.

"They are supportive of each other and want what is best for each other," said Kretzmer. "That first day was tough for Kirstin. She doesn’t feel outclassed by her sister. Their rivalry will drive them to play better."

Kendal Ruffner’s career has gotten off to a fast start, as both she and the Mustangs are 4-0.

"She has great ground strokes and can win from the baseline," noted Kretzmer. "I would like her to come to the net more and finish points."

And there has been no drop-off in Kirstin Ruffner’s play. She’s even better than she was a year ago, when she was among the very best in the Shore and a player who could be counted on to play her best in the pressure moments. She has been running roughshod over the competition at second singles and, along with No. 3 Justine Winkler, is as close as you can get to an automatic point each time out.

Winkler, who played well in second singles for Marlboro last year, when the Mustangs won the A North Division title and got to the Central Jersey Group IV finals, is now at third singles. She has been winning easily .

"Justine has taken on a leadership roll," said Kretzmer. "She knows that she needs to lead, to let everyone know that it’s OK to be playing third singles. She’s doing it for the team."

It will be hard for any team to break through Marlboro’s singles line-up, and even if they do, they still have to contend with highly competitive doubles teams.

Stephanie Haar (who was third singles last year) and Lauren Fishman (second doubles in 2002) have jelled quickly at first doubles.

At second doubles, Kretzmer has a wealth of talent to choose from. right now, but Christine Kastner and Marilyn Chang are the top tandem there.

Ashley Rappaport and Diana Moshak will also get a look as a tandem during the season.

Marlboro has all the ingredients to make 2003 a special season. The Mustangs already have a firm grasp on A North — having beaten Manalapan and Ocean, 5-0.

They will be favored to win the SCT this year. Having lost to Red Bank Regional in the SCT last year, the Mustangs won’t have the pressure of a defending champion. They are chasing RBR.

Despite a 5-0 loss to Marlboro in its opening match, Manalapan remains one of the top teams in the Shore. The Braves are well-balanced, with good players at every position.

Victoria Vityuk and Shaina Murugan are a strong one-two at first and second singles. That’s where they played last year, when they led Manalapan to a 12-4 record, and appearances in the SCT and state sectionals.

Vityuk is one of the best first singles players in the Shore.

Junerose Gambito has moved up to third singles from first doubles last year.

Shaikha Gambito and Shelley Lin are playing first doubles for Manalapan, and Stephanie Hiller and Jennifer Liu have been playing at second doubles.

Manalapan is 2-1.

Freehold Township has been one of the most overlooked teams in recent seasons because the Pats play in the rugged A North division.

Despite locking heads twice each with the likes of Marlboro and Manalapan, the Lady Pats have consistently made the state tournament. They were 8-6 last fall.

This fall, the Pats are relying on the singles trio of Caitlyn Brash, Rachel Segall and Amanda Rosenblum to keep Township above .500.

Colts Neck, which won the Central Jersey Group I title in its very first sea­son, will be relying on underclassmen to continue its winning tradition. Juniors Dana Berbrick and Melanie Masterson are playing first and second singles for the Cougars, with senior Larissa Shul­man in the third slot.

Allison Zick, a junior, and senior Re­becca Sussman are a solid first doubles tandem.

Youth is being served at Howell as well. Freshman Amanda Roselli is start­ing at first singles, with sophomores Erin Sarti and Allison Arolla playing second and third.

The Rebels will take their lumps on the courts this year, but they will be building for the future in the process.

Freehold Borough has been no stranger to the postseason either. The Colonials. have veterans Tamra Wrob­lesky, and Abby Lin and Jennifer Ngyugen.

Cara Wombacher and Liz Coffey bring experience to first doubles for the Colo­nials.