Little Tigers defeat Ocean for title
By: Justin Feil
A third straight Central Jersey Group III title might seem a bit routine, but nothing could be farther from the truth for the Princeton High boys’ tennis team, considering that only two players on the court had ever played in a sectional final before Tuesday.
Even without unbeaten first singles player Ilia Shatashvili and with a first-time second-doubles combination, the Little Tigers found a way to defeat Ocean, 4-1, Tuesday at the West Windsor-Plainsboro South courts. With the win, PHS advanced to the Group III semifinals against South Jersey III winner Moorestown on Thursday.
"Ilia’s a great player," said senior Nate Abraham, who played first doubles last year and second doubles the year before when the Little Tigers won their first CJ III crowns of the run. "But we still have other great players."
Abraham teamed with newly inserted David Chen for a 6-3, 6-3 win at second doubles for the Little Tigers’ first point.
"I’ve played a few matches here and there," said Chen, a junior who has battled injuries with his ankle and back spasms this season. "But this was the most important. To get a win here in such a high pressure situation helps me out and hopefully helps the team out in getting a win."
The two had never played a match together before Tuesday, and had only one practice together. If there were any nerves, they didn’t show as they quickly took control.
"The first set we played even better than the second," Abraham said. "And we won the first two games of the second set. We weren’t behind at all."
Neither was the Little Tigers team. All five flights won their first sets Tuesday. Graham MacDonald took the second point for PHS with a convincing 6-4, 6-3 win at third singles, a position he’d gone 4-4 at early in the regular season.
"It feels awesome," MacDonald said. "To know it counted that you won. I played soccer for the varsity team and we were so pumped after winning our (sectional) game. It’s not the same atmosphere, but it’s still awesome.
"I heard Ocean was a real good team. I didn’t know what to expect. You always expect hour opponent to be better. It hit me about two weeks ago that I was going to play. I didn’t start getting nervous until (Tuesday)."
MacDonald showed no nerves, though he was helped by jumping out to an early lead in the first set. He was forced into duty when Shatashvili could not fly back from the USTA Nationals in Texas in time for the match. He lost to Trey Taylor of Allenwood in the round of 16 before reaching the consolation quarterfinals.
While MacDonald slid into the singles lineup, Aaron Maltby moved from third to second singles and Chris Hoeland jumped from second to first singles. Maltby won the first set before retiring due to injury in the third set. By then, Hoeland, a point winner at third singles in the last two years’ sectionals, won a three-set match to clinch the Little Tigers’ third straight crown. The PHS first doubles team of Brent Willig and Joey Wu also won as the Little Tigers improved to 19-6.
"I think we definitely knew it would be a lot tougher without Ilia," Abraham said. "It put more pressure on Chris and the other two singles. We knew we had to get our doubles point, so we felt we had to put it away."
"We both played really well," Chen added. "Nate kept us in with his huge serve. I thought I could bring a lot of tenacity to that second spot. It’s a team effort. If your partner plays well, you play well. If I play well, it can help Nate escalate his game. It was one of my key points to escalate my game."
Tuesday was a day in which the Little Tigers all had to raise their level of play in order to secure a sectional crown and a rematch with Moorestown, another team they previously faced without Shatashvili and without Abraham. Moorestown won, 4-1.
"I think we have a good chance in states," Abraham said. "We’ll probably play Moorestown and it won’t be easy. I think we have a shot if Ilia comes back."
As they proved Tuesday, they’re tough to beat even without the best player in the county. Shatashvili knew exactly the feeling of winning a CJ III crown. So did Hoeland and Abraham. For every other Little Tiger player, Tuesday was something new.
"It felt really good," Chen said. "To help the team out like this in a big match, nothing else rivals this feeling."
Except, perhaps, a Group III state title, something that the Little Tigers succeeded in doing two years ago. It’s something PHS is looking forward to, even if it’s still unclear exactly which players will be where.
"I want to cheer the team on on Thursday," MacDonald said. "It’s all about the team. Even though I might not be there to play, I still want to see them win."
After all, routine doesn’t mean boring for the PHS boys’ tennis team.