Haar’s victory secures SCT title for Marlboro
Ruffners lead singles sweep and 3-2 win over Holmdel
BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

PHOTOS BY CHRIS KELLY staff Above, Kendal Ruffner works the baseline during her first singles match in West Long Branch on Oct. 5. Below, Ashley Rappaport high-fives a teammate during the celebration after the Mustangs’ SCT win over Holmdel.

The one that got away now belongs to the Marlboro Mustangs. Last spring, while winning the NJSIAA Group IV state championship, one title eluded the Mustangs — the Shore Conference Tournament crown.

Faced with the possibility of being runner-up for a second straight year, the Mustangs used their singles prowess to beat a talented Holmdel squad, 3-2, on Oct. 5 at Shore Regional High School in West Long Branch.

The state sectional final, at a neutral court, is tomorrow afternoon. In the SCT semifinal, Marlboro beat Wall, 3-2, without the dramatics. Kendal and Kirstin Ruffner and first doubles all won in straight sets. Kendal beat Julianne Kisinow, 6-2, 6-0, while Kirstin made quick work of Caitlin White, 6-1, 6-1. Frishman and Moshak also won in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1, over Brianne and Collette Crines. At the Monmouth County Flight Tournament, held in Tindall Park, Middletown, Kirstin Ruffner won her second straight title at second singles and Haar won third singles. Kendal Ruffner, as mentioned above, lost in three sets in the first singles final to Milchutsky. Revenge was sweet two days later as Kendal’s win helped paved the way for Marlboro’s SCT triumph.

Stefanie Haar delivered the clincher for the Mustangs, beating the Hornets’ Stephanie Sher, 7-6 (7-3), 6-2.

Marlboro’s Stefanie Haar is congratulated after her win at third singles clinched the SCT title for the Mustangs on Oct. 5.

Harr, a junior, wasn’t at all fazed at having all eyes peeled on her and Sher as they slugged it out for the decisive point. She was grateful that Kendal and Kirstin Ruffner had won at first and second singles, giving Marlboro the chance to win it with a Harr win.

“For me, I found inspiration from Kendal and Kirstin,” said Haar. “If they hadn’t won, I wouldn’t be in this position. I wanted to win it for the team.

“The SCT was very important to us,” she added. “We wanted to win this more than anything else. We hadn’t won it 10 years.”

Holmdel, seeded No. 2, emerged as a more than serious threat the weekend of Oct. 2-3, when the Hornets won the Monmouth County Flight Championship over Marlboro, winning at first singles and both doubles.

If the Hornets could repeat that scenario in the SCT final, they would upend the top-seeded Mustangs.

True to form, Holmdel’s doubles tandems were as tough in the final as they were at the flight tournament.

Rose Yan and Jessica Liu topped Marlboro’s first doubles team of Diana Moshak and Lauren Frishman, 6-0, 6-1.

The Hornets second doubles team of Tiffany Hsu and Renee Lee were even more dominant, scoring a 6-0, 6-0 win over Marlboro’s Rinata Rikspun and Tatyan Yakhina.

Kirstin Ruffner had Marlboro on the scoreboard first with her 6-1, 6-3 victory at second singles over Arshia Chatterjee. Ruffner sliced the Hornet up with net game and powerful ground strokes. Like the other Hornet singles players, Chatterjee relied on lobs and keeping the ball in play to win points by attrition. But Ruffner neutralized the strategy by getting to the net on short balls and abruptly ending the point.

The first singles battle between Kendal Ruffner and Maryana Milchutsky took on added importance first, because of Milchutsky’s three-set win over the Mustang in the flight finals, and second, because of Holmdel’s strength at doubles. Marlboro needed Kendal to bounce back, and she did with a vengeance, beating Milchutsky, 6-0, 6-3. Despite the one-sided score, it took more than 90 minutes to decide the match, as Milchutsky kept retrieving one shot after another.

It worked in her upset of Ruffner two days earlier, but not in the SCT final.

“I didn’t get as frustrated today,” said Ruffner. “I tried a different strategy. I tried hitting shots that brought her up and down rather than side to side.”

Milchutsky displayed an incredible anticipation and range in keeping shot after shot in play. After Ruffner would move her all over the court, Milchutsky would send up a deep, defensive lob that would start the point all over again.

It worked in the flight final, but not this time. Ruffner didn’t try and overhit and go for winners. She remained patient, took the short ball, and either got to the net behind her shot or hit a clear winner. Milchutsky couldn’t match Ruffner’s offense, and all she could do was prolong the length of the match with her rallies.

With the Ruffners having put two points on the board for Marlboro, matching Holmdel’s wins at doubles, everyone’s attention turned to the third singles court.

When Haar had jumped out to a 4-1 lead over Sher, who she had beaten without the loss of a game at the flight tournament, a Marlboro victory seemed safe. But Sher would come roaring back to take a 5-4 lead in the first set and twice serve for the set. Each time, Haar was able to break and the first set went into a tie-breaker.

Haar regained her composure and aggressiveness and took charge early, winning the breaker 7-3.

“She was more consistent today,” said Haar. “She was getting everything back. A lefty, Haar used a variety of shots, serves and volleys, slice shots and lobs of her own to counter Sher. It was her play at the net that proved to be the difference.

“I love to get to the net any chance I get,” she said.

Haar raced out to a 5-0 lead in that set, stumbled a bit dropping two games, and then won it with a service break, 6-2, to set off a joyous team celebration.

“After last year, winning this was so important,” said Kendal Ruffner.

Marlboro coach Dave Kretzmer was not surprised that the final was as close as it was.

“It was as tough as I thought it would be,” said Kretzmer. “They are so deep, it makes it difficult for everyone. They are very, very solid.”

But so are the Mustangs, ranked No. 1 in the Shore and No. 5 in the state.

Marlboro, which has a one-match lead over Manalapan in the Shore Conference A North Division, will turn its attention this week to the defense of its Central Jersey Group IV championship. The Mustang are seeded No. 2 behind East Brunswick.