NO BACKING DOWN: Princeton Day School girls’ tennis player Shuchi Vanga hits a backhand in a match earlier this season. Senior Vanga is starring at second singles, helping PDS produce a 6-3 start. This week, the Panthers are beginning action in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public South Jersey Tournament where they are seeded third and will host 14th-seeded Our Lady of Mercy on September 30 in a first round contest. In addition, the Panthers will continue regular season play by hosting Princeton High on October 1, playing at the Pennington School on October 5, and then hosting Nottingham on October 6. (Photo by Frank Jacobs III)
By Bill Alden
Coming into this season, the Princeton Day School girls’ tennis team is benefiting from a sense of continuity.
“We are really impressed with the depth of our team this year,” said PDS head coach Michael Augsberger, whose team has gotten off to a 6-3 start. “We didn’t graduate anybody in the past year, so we are bringing back the entire lineup.”
The Panthers boast a key returner at the top of lineup in junior Arundhati Prabhu at first singles.
“She has a great mentality,” said Augsberger of Prabhu. “She doesn’t rely on pace, she can mix it up. Having her talent at the top to absorb those top players lets everybody play second, third or doubles. There is no rest. She can be challenged at No. 1 anywhere she goes in this area.”
At second singles, senior Shuchi Vanga is displaying a winning mentality.
“Shuchi is coming back as a Prep second singles champion and the confidence that brought her last year,” said Augsberger. “She has a really good backhand down the line. She can move you off the court and finish you off with that shot. She is definitely more of a baseliner but she is not afraid to come up.”
Sophomore Sasha Goldberg is bringing a good variety of shots at third singles.
“Sasha has such an intriguing game, sometimes she will be in no man’s land and get stuck and she comes out of it seven times out of 10 because she can hit volleys from anywhere on the court,” said Augsberger. “When she gets in a good position, she can put away volleys. She is one of the only third singles players who will do that, she mixes it up so much. She does whatever it takes to win. She had the most wins on the team last year and she is continuing in that trajectory.”
At first doubles, PDS has paired up two proven winners in seniors Prisha Tiwari and Zarna Kalra.
“You get real tournament-experienced players at first doubles,” said Augsberger. “Prisha has played third singles and Zarna can be a singles player. They both came into the season wanting to play singles and to be able to have them play first doubles together as senior leaders is outstanding. They have gotten stronger. At the beginning they were still trying to figure out their chemistry and they were still able to win matches. In that match against WW/P-South (a 6-4, 6-3 win on September 17), they really performed and played at a high level and got a big win for us.”
Freshman Lotti Flink has emerged as a stalwart at second doubles this fall.
“I coached Lotti in middle school basketball and she stood out as a very strong athlete,” said Augsberger. “She is from a family of athletes. Lotti could be one for best natural athletes we have had on the team. She has got the hands, everything looks natural, and she has got the form. She takes coaching really well. She is going to be important for us in the future.”
Three other players have seen time at second doubles along with Flink, including freshman Isabella Li, freshman Nivya Bathla, and junior Devaki Nanavati.
“Isabella played more tournament tennis, she is the starter,” said Augsberger, noting that Li has been hampered recently by a leg injury.
“Isabella has gorgeous strokes, she puts all of her force into the shot. Nivya surprised us with how quickly she was ready. She really rose quickly and we are impressed with her. Devaki is someone who has a lot of stature on the team because she played in the state final against Pingry in singles (in 2024) because we needed her. She was an injury replacement and she stepped into the lions den.”
With the Panthers starting action in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public South Jersey Tournament where they are seeded third and will host 14th-seeded Our Lady of Mercy on September 30 in a first round contest, Augsberger believes his team can make a deep run in the tourney.
“Because of the depth, it is a team that could be there if we do the right things,” said Augsberger. “We feel confident going anywhere. The leaders on the team have won before and they have also had their heart broken on the road in final. They have been through it all — that is really good preparation for it.”