By Bill Alden

Hoping that familiarity could breed success, Stuart Woody decided to have his Hun School girls’ tennis team spend more time together coming into this fall.

“We boarded this year for the first time during preseason,” said second-year head coach Woody.

“We felt like that was a really good experience for the girls. I thought it was much better bonding.”

Last week, Hun enjoyed a positive experience at the Mercer County Tournament, tying WW/P-South for third, a marked improvement on its eight place finish at the event in 2016.

“What is really impressive is that there were no expectations coming in because we really didn’t know who was going to be back, who was going to be coming up,” said Woody, reflecting on the tournament that was won by Hightstown for a second straight year.

“When you lose your top two, you just don’t know. You want to make sure that you establish the culture during the offseason so they come in and they are ready to play.”

At first singles, freshman Sophia Lin came ready to play at the MCT, advancing to the semifinals and taking fourth.

“Our No. 1 came in and really stepped it up; she is emotional,” said Woody of Lin.

“That is a strength that can be a liability if you don’t find that balance. She has represented us well; she has improved when she has had that opportunity.”

Lin’s run at the county tournament bodes well for the future. “She is going to be a player that no one is going to want to see on the other side by the time she is a senior,” added Woody.

“With each year, I am hoping she will improve. What I am seeing with each session is that she is improving. It is up and down. It is like the stock market, you hope in the long run you keep your money in it and it will go up. I am happy with what I am seeing.”

Junior Ishana Desai paid dividends for Hun at third singles, coming in fourth as well.

“Ishana has the type of game that, if she feels like the other girl is impatient, she can resort to a war of attrition,” said Woody. “This is incredible, she won that first round by knocking off a seed.”

In reflecting on the program’s progress, Woody believes his players have developed a higher level of commitment to the game.

“I would say if someone looked at the talent on the team, last year versus this, we probably don’t have the same level of talent,” said Woody.

“What we have is a lot better energy. I can’t control how good the girls are when they get here but what we can control is their attitude when they get off the bus, their intention when we get to practice, and the kind of intensity we are bringing to the point.”

Going forward, Woody is confident that his players will keep striving to reach their potential.

“It is a spirit of excellence,” said Woody, whose team topped Peddie 4-3 last Thursday to improve to 4-2 in dual match action and starts play in the state Prep A tournament on October 4.

“If we are not competing for a county championship because Hightstown is going to win or if we are not competing for a MAPL (Mid-Atlantic Prep League) championship because Lawrenceville is going to win, you are still competing every day to be your best. How you define success is strictly related to you because you know if you played up to your ability.”