District tennis teams are among the Shore’s best

Colts Neck won C.J. I title in 2000

By tim morris

Staff Writer

It took just two varsity seasons for the Colts Neck girls’ tennis team to bring a state sectional title to the school. Arnie Lifland’s Cougars powered their way through the Central Jersey Group I sectional, topping Metuchen 4-1 in the title game played in the wind at the Manalapan Recreation Center.

Although Colts Neck would capture state sectional titles in three other fall sports, it was the tennis team that had the honor of winning the school’s first state sectional crown.

The Cougars return five of its seven starters including Christina Carusa at first singles.

Second and third singles players Robyn Appel and Danielle Lilonsky have graduated, and in their place, Jessica D’Elia and Basia DeGioia, who were so outstanding at first doubles last year, have moved into the second and third slots. D’Elia did play singles as a sophomore.

Jakki Moller and Shannon Amann, who played second doubles in 2000, are now in the first doubles slot while a pair of promising freshmen, Dana Borbrick and Allison Vick, are playing second doubles.

Caruso is still just a junior, but already a first singles veteran. She is the only first singles player the Cougars have had and she has been very effective. Caruso, a lefty, has steadily improved each year, adding a net game to her already outstanding baseline game. She no longer just outlasts opponents, she can now set them up from the baseline and polish off the points with a volley at the net. She is one of the top first singles players in the Shore and will consistently give the team a 1-0 start.

Coach Arnei Lifland knows that his Cougars have some question marks, such as how well D’Elia and DeGioia will play at singles, and how the freshmen will hold up. However there is a lot of talent throughout the lineup that will make Colts Neck a contender again. The Cougars will move up to Central Jersey Group II for the state sectional this year.

But the Cougars aren’t the only ones who return a talented team this year, and are facing some high expectations.

"We look very similar to last year," Coach Dave Kretzmer said of his 2001 Marlboro Mustangs. "Which is good. We should have a good shot at winning A North.

"We have our full team back, except at second singles," he added. "Our singles will be tough and our doubles are solid. We can get points everywhere."

Marlboro, 12-6 last year, was the top team in the district and ranked in the top 10 in the Shore. The Mustangs were second to Middletown South in the Shore Conference A North Division and would like to reverse that finish in 2001. With all but one starter returning, the Mustangs are poised for a serious run at a championship.

Junior Jackie Haar returns at first singles. She was all-district a year ago.

"Jackie has the full game," said Kretzmer. "She has a solid baseline game, can come to the net and can serve and volley."

Sophomore Justine Winkler slides up to second singles after enjoying a superb freshman year at third singles. Last year’s all-district selection at second singles, Rachel Friedland, has graduated, but the Mustangs are in good hands with Winkler.

"Justine is a power player," noted Kretzmer. "She has powerful ground strokes."

Jenny Wysocki is the model of the determination the Mustangs have come back with. She played second doubles last year, but through hard work has moved up to third singles.

"Jenny hustles and scrapes for everything," said Kretzmer. "She keeps the ball in play."

What has separated Marlboro from everyone else and made them a state power over the years has been their doubles teams. The Mustangs have always been able to call upon their doubles teams for big lifts, and this year is no exception. The ’Stangs have all-district tandem Dara Sher and Victoria Kaminskaya returning, although they may split up this year. Nathalie Chen, Laura Munice, Lisa Jacobs and Allie Asher only strengthen the team. Kretzmer can use any number of combinations and come up with three talented teams.

Manalapan and Freehold Township were SCT and state playoff participants last year and both are well fortified for another postseason.

Manalapan is led by four-year starter Blair Weiss at first singles. A perennial all-district selection, Weiss has developed a powerful baseline game that allows her to dominate points.

Lindsay Cohen, Natalie Weiss, Pam Goldstein, Julie Wu and Stephanie Rosen are the other returners from the 11-8 team of a year ago.

The Patriots, under first coach Thomas Ross, have two-thirds of their singles lineup plus the all-district doubles team back.

All-district selection Lauren Siciliano has graduated, but Lauren Beck and Hallie Fleisher, who did such a good job playing second and third singles, are back.

Kacie Warner and Kim Ryan were the District’s best doubles team last fall and were responsible for some of Township’s biggest wins. Rachel Kallish, who played second doubles, has also returned.

The Lady Pats were very young last fall and, with a successful season to build on, could be a challenger in A North.

Freehold Borough has had a tradition of postseason play and the Colonials would like to make a return to their former winning ways. They have a dependable No. 1 singles player in senior Casie Wombacher.

Dana Braff is back at second singles, providing the team with a lot of experience at singles. Freshman Sonia Rao has won the third singles slot.

Returners Casie Wombacher and Cadas Kazmi are playing first doubles. Liz Coffey and Abby Lin are at second doubles.

Rounding out the team are Shena Tabalar and Christine Lin.

Howell High School is led by Katie Henriguez, a first singles veteran although she is still only a junior.

Alicia Regina and Jennie Chung are playing second and third singles. Regina is a junior and Chung, a senior.

At doubles, the Rebels have Jean Dreskin and Katie Prisco playing in the first slot, and Holly Massol and Karen Whyte at second doubles.