Saturday,
October 15, 2016
By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer
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Monica Kim was half of one of the Old Tappan doubles teams that swept both sets at love to lead the Knights past Wayne Hills, 4-1, and into the North 1, Group 3 state sectional semifinals. |
OLD TAPPAN – Despite how well or how poorly a regular season goes for the Old Tappan girls’ tennis team, there always seems to be the same, unsatisfying ending to the season. The quarterfinal round of the North 1 Group 3 state sectional tournament has been a bug-a-boo for the Golden Knights in each of the past two years and four out of the last six.
Although there were question marks coming into the season with just two seniors, the Golden Knights have peaked at the right time and have made school history in the process.
Once again in the quarterfinal round against this year’s Passaic County champion Wayne Hills, the Golden Knights took care of business in the lower flights to clinch the match in short order. The two doubles teams along with third singles did not drop a single game. With the way the season has gone, it seems it was only right for Old Tappan’s two seniors, first doubles tandem of Monica Kim and Kinnari Trivedi, to provide the clinching point as the third-seeded Golden Knights advance to the North 1, Group 3 semifinals for the first time in nearly two decades with a 4-1 triumph over No. 6 seed Wayne Hills at Old Tappan High School.
“Being aggressive and setting the tone is always a good way to start a match,” said Kim. “Before a big match there are always some nerves. Getting a lead helps to shake off those nerves and just focus on playing your best.”
Third singles player Jacqueline Fales was the first off the court. The crafty junior scored points in a variety of ways mainly from the baseline in quickly notching the first point for Old Tappan.
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Angela Reyzelman won the Wayne HIlls points with a huge comeback at second singles. |
Old Tappan’s doubles teams played a similar style that was effective from the first point of their respective matches to the last
The second doubles teams of Ema Bandazian and Clare Buckley complemented each other well. The left-handed Buckley used her heavy topspin forehand successfully while Bandazian controlled the net and had steady all-around play in a 6-0, 6-0 win.
The Golden Knights needed just one more point to secure the win and they did not need to wait long to get it. Kim provided steady serving and returning while Trivedi used her height to poach effectively and be an absolute force at the net to close out the match and send Old Tappan into the section semifinals.
“There’s been a lot of team bonding this season and I think it’s really transitioned to how well we’ve played on the court,” said Trivedi.
“I think for doubles teams it’s very important to have a partner you’re close with and comfortable with,” said Kim. “We have been playing together for a long time and we know each other’s strengths and weaknesses.”
Despite the outcome being in the hand, the marquee match was still on the court at first singles between talented sophomore Melanie Sparhawk and Passaic County champ Jessica Goldman. The two had long rallies throughout the match but Sparhawk seemed to win all of the ones during crucial times in the match. Although the match was closer than the score indicated, Sparhawk showed mental toughness in a 6-2, 6-1 victory for Old Tappan (11-4).
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Clare Buckley and Old Tappan will visit Indian Hills in the sectional semifinals. |
Wayne Hills (10-5) got its lone point at second singles. Angela Reyzelman was down a set and down 3-0 in the second set before battling back to win 10-8 in a third-set super tiebreak.
After suffering a season-ending loss last year in the North 1, Group 3 quarters to Indian Hills the Golden Knights were hoping to get a rematch this season. That has materialized as they will travel to face to face the second-seeded Braves in the North 1, Group 3 semifinals on Monday. After finally getting over the hump of reaching the section semifinals, the Golden Knights want to see just how far they can go from here.
“We really wanted to win this match and now we Indian Hills again,” added Trivedi. “It’s going to be a really close match. We know a lot of their players and they know us. To make a run in the states like we have is a really good way to end our season.”
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