October 26, 2016

PHS Girls’ Tennis Falls Short in State Semis But Defeat Doesn’t Dim Positive Experience

1st singles

YOUNG SINGER: Princeton High girls’ tennis player Samantha Singer hits a backhand in a recent match. Last Thursday, freshman Singer battled valiantly in a 6-3, 6-0 defeat to Kruti Navin of Ridge at first singles as PHS fell 4-1 to the Red Devils in the state Group 4 semifinals. The defeat left the Little Tigers with a final record of 17-3. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Even though Maggie Herring’s career with the Princeton High girls’ tennis team ended in defeat as she and partner Nicole Samios fell in straight sets at first doubles to Ridge in the state Group 4 semis last Thursday, she wasn’t hanging her head. 

“They were really good,” said senior standout Herring with a smile. “It was a fun match because it was our last match playing together.”

For Herring, pairing up with Samios this fall proved to be a fun experience.

“It has been a great season, I have a freshman partner so I am sort of integrating her into the varsity lineup,” said Herring, who played at second doubles last season.

“It is just staying positive if she gets down. I have to build her up and teach her that you can’t let yourself get down on one point. We try to win every point and try to just focus on what is at hand.”

That focus helped PHS win a sectional title as it returned to the state Final 4 after making it for four straight seasons between from 2011-14.

“That was really exciting because I have never been on the varsity team when they did get to sectional finals,” said Herring. “That was really great, a lot of people in school kept congratulating us.”

Herring has enjoyed competing with the people on the PHS squad.

“The tennis team is a really good team for bonding,” noted Herring, who also stars for the PHS girls’ ice hockey team.

“All of the girls are focused on their own skills so there is less team building but you get more friendships out of it. Everyone is so sweet and it is a great community to be part of.”

Freshman first singles star Samantha Singer was thrilled to be part of a team that won a sectional title.

“We put a lot of hard work into it so it meant a lot that we were able to pull it off,” said Singer. “It was just a good experience.”

Playing in the first singles spot has helped Singer’s game grow faster. “It has been great; to get to play all of the top players is really good,” added Singer.

“I hope to be in this position next year and keep working for it. It is definitely a lot of great match play, which is really helpful. It is getting those serves and everything down and using more smarts while playing.”

In her match against Ridge in the state semis, Singer gained some valuable experience.

“I thought I played well in the first set,” said Singer.  “I just got a little mentally down in the second. It was a pretty good match, she was a good player.”

In Singer’s view, the Little Tigers have very good prospects going forward. “I definitely think it was a good experience, we can build from this and get confidence from this,” said Singer.

PHS head coach Christian Herzog hoped for a more positive outcome against Ridge, the eventual Group 4 state champions.

“This wasn’t the result we were hoping for, we thought it would be a lot closer of a match,” said Herzog, whose team finished the season with a 17-3 record.

The highlight of the match for PHS came at second singles where senior Elise Gerdes pulled out a 6-4, 1-6, 10-8 win over Ridge’s Chrissie Giberna.

“I think that the one takeaway for me with regard to the team was that it was good to see Elise as a senior to have her opportunity on the grand stage to finish it,” said Herzog.

“I am happy for her that this is how she is going to graduate; she had the opportunity to win in the tiebreaker to take it. She has worked hard the whole season.”

Over the course of the season, PHS has worked hard collectively to come through in a number of tough matches.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the girls in terms of their accomplishments and camaraderie and willingness to fight tooth and nail to get as far as we can,” said Herzog.

“We had to win a lot of those 3-2 matches. That is another testament to our willingness to put the gears down and move forward.”

With Singer and fellow freshmen Samios and third singles star Spencer Watts all coming back, the Little Tigers figure to accomplish a lot in upcoming seasons.

“Obviously our goal in the beginning of the season was to be better than we were last season,” said Herzog, who also has sophomore second doubles player Adriana Todorova slated to return.

“We got lucky with some talent coming in. Looking to next year we can definitely build on this. Obviously the lineup is going to flip around; we have some kids we can work with and still remain competitive.”

The graduation of Herring, Gerdes, and second doubles player Brinda Suppiah, though, will leave a void in the PHS lineup.

“They are three great girls, they will definitely be missed,” said Herzog. “It is going to be difficult, you will never replace the personalities. Brinda is more that silent leader. Elise is more vocal, she wants everyone to feel comfortable and feel part of the team. You get the vocal part with Maggie. They all add something to the mix; you hope that you get someone with the same willingness to buy into the team and shared goals and leadership.”