MHS’ Voutier, Eckhardt hoping for sectional title
By: Justin Feil
Jordan Voutier and Jeremy Eckhardt didn’t even know each other before the start of the Montgomery High boys’ tennis season and weren’t even playing together when the season began. But soon after, the two formed a solid union as the Cougars’ first doubles pairing.
Thursday in a match that was moved up in case of bad weather, they polished off a convincing 6-0, 6-1 win over Manasquan’s Mike Crowley and Alex Garcia in the Central Jersey Group II state tournament with such quickness that Eckhardt was done playing in less than the span of his double lab period.
The win propelled second-seeded MHS to a 3-2 victory over Manasquan and guaranteed some more missed class time with today’s CJ II final against top-seeded Rumson-Fair Haven at Metuchen today at 4 p.m..
"We’re doing really well," said Voutier as he and Eckhardt improved to 11-1 this season. "We’re really motivated. We’re excited about states and missing a day of school. We’re going to try as hard as we can. Hopefully we’ll do our best. Either way, we came pretty far and we’re happy."
Voutier and Eckhardt have come a long way since the start of the season. It was a long process before they stuck out as a solid doubles pairings.
"Originally in tryouts," said the freshman Eckhardt, "there were a lot of seniors on the team and other people who were pretty equal. We had so many combinations. Garrett (Blitz) and Chris (Collins, MHS’ second doubles) are sort of friends, so I think that’s a reason they’re together. Jordan and I played the best together."
"It was all up in the air due to all the rain and cancellations," added Voutier, a junior. "Then someone went on vacation and they switched up Jeremy and put me in for one and we kept going with it. We became first doubles and we’ve done well since. I never even knew him before since he’s just a freshman."
So far, their only loss came in the Somerset County Tournament, but the two are prepared for stiff competition today, something of a change from the rest of the year and particularly from Thursday’s quick two-setter.
"We haven’t had a close match really," Eckhardt said. "There was more pressure watching the other guys play (Thursday). I was more nervous watching them.
"The coach of Manasquan told us a little bit about (Rumson). They lost to them twice. He said that it will be a good match when the doubles play. Everyone says that all five of the matches will be close. It’s better if it’s a close match if we win."
Montgomery has done plenty of that this season. The Cougars stretched their team record to 10-2, and one of those losses was a recent 3-2 defeat at the hands of West Windsor-Plainsboro South. That experience could help as they advance deep into sectionals.
"It’s going to be a tough match," Voutier said of today. "They’re pretty good. Our coach keeps warning us to keep on our toes now. This is where it comes down to business. All these previous schools, we knew we have a good chance. I think we can do it and our team can do it."
Voutier and Eckhardt will almost certainly factor into this and next season’s chances for the Cougars. With all three of MHS’ singles players due to graduate, they could move up in the lineup next season. But both have enjoyed playing doubles.
"I like the doubles more than singles, I think," Eckhardt said. "I like volleying a lot. There’s not much pressure and it’s fun playing doubles."
He’d certainly like the chance to move up next year after coming so close to making the singles lineup this season. He lost, 6-4, to Eli Katz in the tiebreaker in a challenge match.
"I’m just going to concentrate on tennis a lot this summer," Eckhardt said. "I working hopefully two summer camps. The top three players are all seniors, so I don’t care this year, but singles is good too."
As for Voutier, he already made one move, from junior varsity last season to varsity this year.
"I like doubles," he said. "Singles is different. I like playing doubles though. I think it’s more fun. It’s really a good position for me. I was thinking I could make the varsity. I played a lot over the summer and I was in shape."
It just took a little while to get them together. Since then, however, the two have shown the ability to work well together in forming a once-beaten doubles team. Eckhardt is the stronger at the net, while Voutier brings solid groundstrokes to the team, but both are well-rounded players. And their pairing has helped give MHS a well-rounded lineup.
"I think everything is where it should be," Voutier said. "It worked out, no matter how late it worked out."