By: Sean Moylan
Girls have played such a major role in spring tennis at Florence Township Memorial High School over the last five years that the Flashes are no longer referred to as a boys’ varsity tennis team, but rather a co-ed varsity team. So it came as no surprise when two of the best female tennis players in Florence’s history, Jenny Liu and Desiree Stemmer, edged John Cerchini and Tim Legnini, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 in second doubles to lead Florence to an incredible 3-2 win at Palmyra last Wednesday.
"It was an unbelievable game," said Florence Coach Ovi Dragos, who watched his gutsy second doubles tandem come back from 3-0 and 5-3 deficits to take the second set. In the third set, Liu and Stemmer’s tremendous stamina was quite evident as they outlasted their Palmyra opponents to earn their win.
Florence’s Phil Mersinger crushed Ed Obczyski 6-4, 6-0 in second singles and Steve Hummel beat Palmyra’s Joe Bossen 6-4, 6-1 in third singles for Florence’s other victories.
On Thursday, Northern Burlington beat Florence, 4-1, at Florence. The Flashes however, played much better against the Greyhounds than they did last season. In fact, Sean Marren and Ronak Patel posted a big 6-3, 7-5 win over NBC’s Dan Mayo and Jaren Abscon in first doubles.
On Friday, the well-conditioned Flashes blanked Burlington City 5-0.
Daniel Senni did not lose one game to the Blue Devils’ Angelo Busciacco in first singles, and in second doubles Florence’s Liu and Stemmer shut out Matt Markus and Mark Relias.
Mersinger beat Mehdin Music 7-5, 6-1 in second singles. Steve Hummel defeated Justin Vang 6-2, 6-1 in third singles, Marren and Patel downed Frank Hajzer and Ogam Kumova 6-2, 6-0, which enabled Florence to make a clean sweep.
As a team, the 2-1 Flashes are off to their strongest start in years. However, they must maintain their fine conditioning to compete with some of Burlington County’s better tennis in the weeks to come.
Florence’s scheduled Monday match versus Burlington was snowed out. Florence was scheduled at Holy Cross yesterday. Florence is scheduled at Cinnaminson on Friday and at Delran on Monday.
NBC
Take a good long look at the Northern Burlington County Regional High School boys’ varsity tennis teams present 1-2 record, because in all likelihood it will be the last time the Greyhounds are under .500 this year.
In an effort to harden his team early, NBC Coach Larry Young put the powerful Hun School on his club’s schedule last Wednesday.
"We only went (to the Hun School) for the experience of playing a high quality tennis," said Coach Young, whose team lost all five of its individual matches despite a strong effort by Justin Wagner in third singles.
Nonetheless, NBC rebounded quickly with a 4-1 win at Florence on Thursday.
"They (the Flashes) are very much improved," remarked Coach Alustiza, "That’s the strongest I’ve seen them (the Flashes) in a long time, but we played very well."
In first singles. NBC’s Jeremy Schmitter beat Daniel Senni 6-1, 6-1. NBC’s Scott Zanon won 7-5, 6-0 over Phil Mersinger in second singles and Justin Wagner downed Florence’s Steve Hummel 6-3, 6-3.
In second doubles, Don Follmer and Tim Bullus edged Florence’s Jenny Liu and Desiree Stemmer 6-4, 6-4.
Last Friday, Moorestown topped NBC 4-1 at Northern Burlington. "Moorestown is just extremely strong," said Coach Young.
Even so, Justin Wagner won a fairly easy 6-1, 6-1 match over Moorestown’s Brian Morrison in third singles.
"On a lot of teams Justin (Wagner) would be playing the one spot," Coach Young said.
Monday’s snowed out match versus Rancocas Valley has been rescheduled for Thursday (today). NBC was scheduled to have hosted Burlington City yesterday. NBC is scheduled at Willingboro on Friday and Pemberton on Monday.
"Our next six matches we should win," said Coach Young.
At the very least, NBC got its match versus the Hun School and one of its matches versus Moorestown out of the way. Now it can start dominating.

