HHS girls win opening tennis match to gain confidence

Scozzari’s young troops defeat Franklin

By: Rudy Brandl
   First-year head coach Sylvia Scozzari is seeking to build her Hillsborough High girls’ tennis team’s confidence on the courts this fall.
   Scozzari, who served as an assistant for seven years in both girls’ tennis and softball, has taken over as a head coach for the first time. She has many first-time varsity players in her lineup who need a little more seasoning and match time. Scozzari’s young squad posted a 4-1 victory over Franklin last Friday to start the 2001 campaign on a positive note.
   "I’m working on building their confidence," said Scozzari, a former No. 1 singles player at Steinert High. "Conditioning is very important and strategy is very important, but I want them to get out there and believe in themselves."
   Friday’s opener was a good start for the Raiders and their self-confidence. HHS posted four straight set victories and dropped one match in three sets.
   Sophomore Katie Merriam moves up from the No. 3 slot to first singles. Merriam worked hard in the off-season and established herself as the top player in the school.
   "She’s gotten so much better," Scozzari said. "She has a great backhand, forehand and she really hits the corners. She’s hitting the ball hard."
   Merriam won her opening match over Seema Bhandari 6-1, 6-3 to set the tone for the Raiders. She replaces graduated senior Amy Shah as the No. 1 singles player.
   Junior Catherine Kinrade, a first doubles player last year, has stepped up to the second singles position. Kinrade defeated senior Kristen Shoop in a challenge match to determine the second position. She then knocked off Pai Chao 6-1, 6-1 in her first regular season test.
   Shoop, who saw action at both first and second singles last year, will open the season at No. 3 this fall. Scozzari is expecting big things from Shoop, who has experience against tougher competition at the 1-2 spots. Shoop lost to Joy Fletcher 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 at Franklin, but she played better as the match progressed.
   "She played more aggressively and played her game after the first set," Scozzari said. "I want to see her dictate and take charge a little bit more."
   Junior Sara Lavell and freshman Erin Aiello begin the season as the HHS first doubles tandem. Lavell played some varsity second doubles last year and has the experience to help the younger Aiello, who has great skills for a freshman. The Hillsborough duo posted a 6-1, 7-5 victory at Franklin.
   Jen Wagner, another junior who played some second doubles last fall, joins sophomore Carolyn Chen at second doubles. Wagner has a solid forehand and net game, while Chen hits a good backhand. Wagner and Chen posted a 6-1, 6-4 win at Franklin.
   Other girls who could see varsity action are junior Jonna Scaringe and sophomore Michelle Ormsby, the jayvee first doubles players. Mihn Dang is the new jayvee coach.
   Hillsborough will face much tougher competition against schools like Watchung Hills, Bridgewater and North Hunterdon, but Scozzari believes the Raiders can hold their own. While she’s looking for a winning season, improvement and self-confidence are the biggest goals.
   "I want every single one of my players to walk away feeling they did the best they could to improve every match," Scozzari said.
   Scozzari also wants to maintain the fine tradition of HHS girls’ tennis established by former head coach Bernadette Coyle, whose team won a Central Jersey Group 4 title in 1997.
   "I’m very excited for this new experience and it’s definitely more of a challenge," Scozzari said. "I worked under one of the best coaches. Bernadette is very knowledgeable and she gave me a lot of insight. I just hope to continue the tradition of Hillsborough tennis."
   Scozzari’s off to a great start.