Spector leads Panthers girls’ tennis at top
By: Justin Feil
In the first set against Morristown-Beard’s Christina Raia on Saturday, Andrea Spector looked like she was in a match from last year.
"Andrea broke her rally record," said Princeton Day School girls’ tennis coach Patty Headley. "When Andrea was at third singles, she was known for her long rallies. She’s put on a lot more power and pace this year. This girl and their lady slugged away in the first set. It took an hour and a half. Last year, the longest rally I counted of Andrea’s was 63. It was 66 (Saturday), and she won the rally."
In the second set, Spector, who’s made the jump to first singles this year, showed the type of player that she is developing into by putting away Raia in 25 minutes for a 6-2, 6-1 win as part of the Panthers’ first 5-0 sweep of the season.
"My opponent was a consistent player," said Spector, who won her first match as a sophomore. "In order to win the first set, I had to take chances by hitting hard, deep shots down the line and cross-court.
"In the second set," she added, "I moved the ball around the court even more and was able to take advantage of my speed and endurance."
The win was the third of the season for the Panthers, whose starting lineup has only Spector and second singles senior Kaitlyn Langdon as returning starters from last year’s 12-2 squad. Adjusting to such a dramatic change for Spector has taken some time, but she is playing better each week.
"It has been an amazing experience to play first singles," Spector said. "PDS plays other private schools with nationally and middle states ranked first-singles players. Playing these girls has given me unbelievable experience. Each match has forced me to raise the level of my game."
Spector’s game continues to rise, and it stands to reason that she has a little farther to go than some of her opponents. Unlike many first singles players who have had a racket in their hand ever since they can remember, Spector didn’t take up the sport until a year after she arrived at Princeton Day School.
"I’ve only been playing four years," she said. "I’ve been at PDS since fifth grade. I started playing in sixth grade, when I was 12."
"First singles, that’s the big dream when you go out (for the team)," Headley said. "Everyone says, ‘I want to be first singles.’ I don’t know what they’re thinking. It’s hard. I’d prefer to be third. First singles is absolutely the toughest spot to play."
But playing that level of competition day in and day out has made Spector a stronger player. Her old look was on display more in the first set against Raia, the new Spector came out in the second set Saturday.
"It was the Andrea of old in the first set," Headley said. "She was able to completely change her game the next set. I told her that the way she played in the first set worked against that opponent, but the next set only took 25 minutes. That’s the kind of play she’s been working toward all season."
Spector isn’t alone in adjusting. Langdon has moved from a doubles position to a singles spot. The doubles teams are developing as well.
"With Hallie Slamowitz getting injured early on, Nicole Auerbach has had three different partners," Headley said. "She’s clicked with Sabrina Basu and I think they’ve won four or five matches now. And they’ll both be back. So will (first doubles) Melissa Wong. Leonie (Emde) is an exchange student, so she won’t."
And the most successful of the PDS players this year, Emma Mason, is a junior at third singles. Mason improved to 6-10 overall with Saturday’s straight sets win. With a few more team wins as of late, the Panthers are showing signs of turning the corner.
"When you finally get some wins, the confidence level goes up and players are willing to try different things," Headley said. "The doubles teams in particular have come a long way as far as attacking the net and taking chances. They were very reluctant in the beginning of the season to do that.
"It’s the same thing with singles. At the next level of play, it’s starting to dictate points. Instead of playing not to lose, they’re playing to win. That’s the next level. I do believe these ladies are capable of it. I believe it, but most importantly, they’re showing themselves that they do. It’s going to get them to the next level."
For now, the Panthers are content to enjoy every win they get as a young team. The celebration was pretty mild Saturday despite the overwhelming victory.
"Team spirit has been very high all season," Spector said. "It was great to have a 5-0 win on PDS’ Homecoming weekend. After the game, the team showed school spirit was supporting PDS’ football team (in its first night game)."
Spector and the Panthers expect that they’ll be getting more used to victories in the coming years as they continue to develop in all aspects of the game.
"Most of our players will be returning next year," Spector noted, "and our team will have more experience."
PDS still has several winnable matches and the challenging Prep A tournament before turning their sights on next year. But experience that should mean more victories down the road, and more fast second sets like Saturday’s for a fast-improving Andrea Spector and the PDS girls’ tennis team.