Perennial champs stop defending champ PHS

Millburn ends Little Tiger tennis’ short Group III reign

By: Justin Feil
   Two matches completed, the Princeton High boys’ tennis team faced darker skies than those threatening overhead in the Group III state final against Millburn on Tuesday.
   But, even if the clouds never did disappear, for a moment the Little Tigers’ chances brightened as Chris Hoeland and Ilia Shatashvili captured crucial wins within 20 minutes of each other for a 2-2 tie.
   "That was definitely a confidence booster," said Hoeland, who won at third singles. "That got us back in the match. We were down, 2-0, pretty quickly. Ilia said he though he’d have a good chance. And a lot of people thought it would come down to third singles, so I was happy to win."
   The match came down to a terse first doubles match between two of the top pairings in the state, and it was Millburn’s day in the sun Tuesday as they captured a 11-9 tiebreaker in the second set to win a pressure-packed championship.
   "I definitely would have felt more pressure if I was the last match," said Hoeland, who won in that situation to top Ocean last year for the Central Jersey Group III crown. "But since we were down before, there was still pressure on all of us. When we were down, 2-0, we knew the next loss and we’d lose."
   Tuesday’s loss ended the Little Tigers chances at a repeat and perhaps their best shot at a Meet of Champions title. Wednesday, Millburn advanced to the Tournament of Champions semifinals with a 5-0 win over Point Pleasant Beach.
   "This definitely could have been our year," Hoeland said. "Our singles lineup is stronger than last year. Ilia’s better than he was last year, and Marc (Nichols) is better at second singles and I’m a year older. First doubles is a lot like last year. Chad (Maisel) is a great player and second doubles is probably better than last year."
   The problem Tuesday was that Millburn, a team that the Little Tigers beat earlier in the season when they didn’t have their No. 1, is also improved from the squad that lost to PHS in the Group III final last season.
   "We thought we had a shot at every single flight, and they could have won, 5-0, just as easily," said PHS head coach David Black, whose team slipped to 22-3. "They were stronger than us all-around. Our doubles have played better than they did today. I don’t know if the layoff had some effect. They were rusty. It was nice to see Chris win and Ilia go up early, but doubles were down, so I never was too excited."
   Princeton advanced to the Group III final with a 4-1 semifinal win over Tenafly earlier Tuesday. Shatashvili and Hoeland were joined by Nichols and the second doubles team of Greg Wu and Eli Shindelman in wins over the North I champion. That set up another match with Millburn.
   "I thought we were better this year," Black said. "I thought we had just as good a chance as last year. A lot of people thought it was an upset when we beat Millburn last year. We had a chance.
   "We were still in it (at 2-2). I’m disappointed that our opponent didn’t play with dignity. But we’ve played Millburn four times and it’s been like this."
   Contentious feelings came after the on-court antics and numerous delays with Millburn’s first doubles team, as well as because of the Millburn fans, one of whom was accused of spitting at a PHS fan. Perhaps it was that they felt threatened by the defending champions, though they’re the ones with the winning history.
   "They’re perennial Group III champs," Black said. "They’ve won states more times than anybody. They were the favorites. They did their part. I just hate losing to them."
   Just as much Black dislikes losing four seniors who made a Group III state finals appearance possible. Graduating this year will be Nichols, Maisel, Wu and Shindelman.
   "It would have been nice to go out on a winning note," Black said. "We’re losing four seniors that were the heart and soul of our team. We had such strong doubles with three guys there. Next year, I don’t know where we find guys to replace them."
   The good news is that the two players who picked up PHS’ wins against Millburn, Hoeland and Shatashvili, are among the returners along with first doubles’ Nate Abraham.
   "We lose four seniors and that’s a lot," Hoeland said. "Second singles, half of first doubles, second doubles. And we don’t have that many people coming up."
   What it takes is more players as dedicated as Hoeland is. The sophomore keeps an active out-of-season schedule that helps in season, and he seems to get better with every match. In the Little Tigers’ earlier match against Millburn, he lost. But he was able to avenge that loss with a straight sets win Tuesday.
   "I don’t know if I learned something specific in that match that helped me today," Hoeland said. "From all my losses, I learn I need to improve."
   There haven’t been many losses for Hoeland, who improved to 20-2. He, Nichols and Shatashvili will play in the state singles tournament that begins Saturday at Veterans and Mercer County Parks. Maisel and Abraham begin play noon Sunday at Veterans Park.
   "It definitely matters," Hoeland said. "It’ll be fun. We’ll go out and play our hardest and see what happens."
   That strategy worked well enough for Hoeland on Tuesday in one of his biggest matches of the year, and PHS hopes it’s enough for a brighter ending in the Little Tigers’ final state tournament appearance this season.