BACK IN THE SWING: Princeton Day School girls’ tennis star Renee Karchere-Sun smacks a backhand in a match last fall. Junior Karchere-Sun has performed well at first singles this season, helping PDS to a 3-1 start. In upcoming action, the Panthers host the George School (Pa.) on September 17 before playing at the Hill School (Pa.) on September 19 and at the Peddie School on September 23. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

For the Princeton Day School girls’ tennis team, facing some tough challenges out of the gate should be good preparation for the tests ahead.

“We had a nice win over Haddonfield to start the season and then we had a tough loss to Montgomery,” said PDS head coach Ed Tseng.

“It was nice to bounce back against Pingry. Emily [Dyckman] and Maria [Martinovic] had tough matches and pulled them out. It is nice to get some tough matches as we get ready for the counties.”

Tseng is seeing a greater toughness in first singles star Renee Karchere-Sun.

“She is a nice No. 1 for us, she has great talent and the nice thing about her is that she worked so hard in the offseason,” said Tseng of junior Karchere-Sun.

“She is playing well, she seems to be mentally tougher. She is pulling out matches this year that she might not have won in the past.”

Junior co-captain Maria Martinovic figures to win a lot of matches at second singles this fall for the Panthers.

“Maria is looking good, we are happy to have her at No. 2,” added Tseng. “She is a co-captain with Emily so she’s a leader as well as a great player. She is able to be steady but aggressive when she needs to be.”

Third singles player, senior Emily Dyckman, has proven to be a steadying presence for PDS over her career.

“Leadership is the No. 1 thing with her, both on and off the court,” said Tseng. “She is solid at No. 3 for us. She is very athletic; she is very competitive. She wants to win every match.”

At first doubles, the Panthers should be competitive with the pair of Devika Kumar and Tauria Salvati.

“Devika and Tauria are both returners, Tauria was at second doubles last year,” said Tseng.

“They are playing very nicely. They are both athletic. We are working on doubles strategy with them and they are good learners. They will face some tough doubles teams but if they do what they know, they will be fine.”

The second doubles spot is currently in the hands of Anna Kovacevich and Arya Jha.

“It is Anna and Arya right now,” said Tseng. “Vasilissa [Paushkin] is coming back from an injury, she will have to earn her way back. Anna and Arya are both nice additions to the team.”

There is a good chemistry around the team. “It is a nice group of girls, there is no drama,” said Tseng, noting that new assistant coach Trevor Campbell, the former PDS junior varsity coach, has been a positive influence on the squad. “They are having fun.”

Tseng, for his part, believes the Panthers can have a lot of fun at the Mercer County Tournament, which is scheduled for September 29 and October 1.

“I can’t talk about the other teams but I like our chances,” said Tseng, whose team topped the Hun School 4-1 on Monday and hosts the George School (Pa.) on September 17 before playing at the Hill School (Pa.) on September 19 and at the Peddie School on September 23.

“In something like the MCT you never know, anything can happen. In my first year (2011), we won and that was the first time PDS had won in something like 25 years. You have to stay in the moment and take it one match at a time.”