Tennis
By: Steve Feitl
The Lawrence High School tennis squad faced an uphill battle Monday.
Despite the Cardinals’ impressive 5-2 record and dominant performances this season, Mercer County Tournament seedings were not kind to LHS.
Only two Lawrence players were ranked in the top five of their draw. Still, the Cardinals answered with several stand-out performances in the tournament’s first two rounds Monday.
No.1 singles player Alex Tervooren continued his successful season by battling into the semifinals Wednesday, as did third singles Marc Nichols.
“We did have a tough draw, but the players really rose to the occasion,” said Cardinal coach Albert Paulsson. “It’s a big tournament and we had some big wins (Monday).”
Tervooren — the No. 5 seed in the first singles pool — cruised past his first round opponent in straight sets, but had a dogfight in the quarterfinals against Peddie’s John Scott. Tervooren was victorious, 7-5, 7-6 (7-1), to move on to the semifinals Wednesday.
But the story of the day may have been Nichols, who also drew a No. 5 seed at third singles. He punched out Hopewell Valley’s Brady Niederer 6-2, 6-4, and then upset Princeton’s Brian Lau in equally dominant fashion, 6-0, 6-2.
And while Tervooren and Nichols lived to play another day, Paulsson was pleased with the performances of his other players who were not quite as lucky.
Second singles Sid Gulati suffered a tough opening round loss to Chris Clayton of Peddie, 6-2, 6-3.
Meanwhile, the first doubles pair of Matt Angeli and Andrew Marks got past their first round opponents from Trenton, but fell in the quarterfinals to Peddie’s top doubles squad, 6-4, 6-4.
Henry Duke and Raja Taunk also advanced to the quarterfinals, but suffered a loss to their West Windsor-Plainsboro opponents, 6-2, 6-2.
The state tournament cut-off passed Monday and Lawrence is clocked at 5-2 — right about where Paulsson hoped they’d be at this point in the season.
And while he isn’t sure if the Cardinals will fare better in the state draw than they did in the MCT’s, the coach does know his team is getting stronger by the day and will be contenders regardless.
“The team is definitely playing better as we go,” Paulsson said. “We’re gaining confidence and gaining experience. There is a high level of intensity out there and guys playing hard each and every time they take the court. We’ll be ready for the states.”
The Cardinals also have to be ready for a tough week of tennis, starting today (Thursday) at HoVal. They host Princeton Day School Friday and West Windsor-Plainsboro Tuesday.
“With PDS, you never know,” Paulsson said. “They’re a strong club and you have to be ready to be on the top of your game. And West Windsor-Plainsboro is always strong.
“So those are three good matches we have upcoming,” he continued. “They’ll serve as three nice tests for the team.”