By: Joseph Harvie
The Monroe High School tennis squad’s hot streak has hit a rough spot.
"We’re on somewhat on the slide," coach Jim Kushner said. "We were 9-7. We lost to Sayreville, 3-2. We lost 4-1 to Bishop Ahr. We’re just in a slide."
In the previous two weeks the Falcons had defeated Spotswood, Carteret and JFK before losing two straight.
Kushner said he had put together a makeshift lineup against Sayreville on Tuesday because Tal Falk and John Ronan, at second and third singles respectively, were not at the match.
Kushner broke up his first doubles team of Ken Stanley and Matt Sweeney, moving Sweeney to second singles and Stanley to third.
Kushner had to bump the second doubles team of Chris Worman and Justin Bauman up to first singles and put Ashish Patel and Bill DiPierro at second doubles.
Stanley won his third singles match against Sayreville 6-4, 6-3, Kushner said, and said he played well at singles.
"He stayed at the line and just did real well for the team," Kushner said. "He played with confidence."
The continuing story for the Flacons has been the consistent play of Chris Worman and Justin Bauman.
The pair defeated Sayreville’s first singles team on Tuesday, and Kushner said he is looking for wins out of these two in their upcoming matches against South Plainfield.
"They are 15-2. They won on Tuesday," Kushner said. "I might have to have them play the first doubles team to see who should be there. I think now they might be the better of the two doubles teams."
Kushner added that Bauman and Worman seem more confident in their play and have been able to keep a consistent pace on the court.
"They started to click and got confidence in each other," Kushner said. "They both hustle, I’m really happy with their play. It’s easy to say you’re happy with a team when they are winning, but the one reason why they are winning is because they are hustling and they are playing well with each other."
Frank Senatore lost to Sayreville on Tuesday, but Kushner said he played well despite health problems.
"Frankie Senatore was ill and didn’t play Monday, but he’s not an excuse maker," Kushner said.
The Falcons have two matches left for the season a home and home series against South Plainfield on Thursday and Friday, Kushner said he is looking to take both matches.
