Florence boys’ tennis on hot streak

By: Sean Moylan
   Playing one favorable match-up after another, the highly-skilled Florence Township Memorial High School boys’ varsity tennis rolled off four more wins in the past seven days to bring its winning streak to five.
   In its most competitive match of the week, Florence posted a 4-1 victory at Cinnaminson last Wednesday (April 13).
   Jonathan Hand scored the most impressive decision for Florence, with a 6-0, 6-1 victory over the Pirates’ hard-hitter Huy Phan (third singles). Meanwhile, Daniel Senni had no trouble topping Cinnaminson’s second singles player Max Demianovich 6-2, 6-1.
   The Flashes have a team known as much for their intelligence as their physical prowess. In fact, Joe Molimock didn’t let his school work suffer even though he had the big match scheduled for last Wednesday.
   "He (Molimock) slept only 1 ½ hours because he had to finish an English project," said Florence head coach Ovi Dragos.
   Nonetheless, a tired Molimock, once again, teamed up with Stuart Lopez at first doubles and beat Cinnaminson’s Tim Lane and Jeff Haas 6-2, 6-3.
   And in second doubles, Florence’s Scott Rein and Eric Centofanti beat Steve Villiara and Matt Pielichowski 6-1, 6-2.
   "They’re picking up. I’m working on them being more aggressive," said Dragos of his second doubles duo.
   Even the Flashes only loss was a qualifying match, as the Pirates’ Andrew Pearlstein nipped Luis Gutierez 7-6 (7-3), 3-6, 7-5 in first singles.
   "It was very close," added Dragos.
   Although the Flashes know coming in that their chances of beating the Blue Devils at Burlington City were pretty good, a mixed lineup made it an interesting 5-0 win.
   Andrew Monger, the ninth player in Dragos’ rotation, came in and won a gutsy 4-6, 7-6 (7-0), 7-6 (7-3) decision over Pradeep Sigh at third singles, which impressed Dragos and the rest of the club. Hand, who moved from third to second singles for the match (Senni was out for the day), beat Mehdin Music 6-1, 6-2.
   Florence’s Luis Gutierez (first singles), Molimock and Lopez (first doubles) and Centofanti and Rein (second doubles) all won their respective matches 6-0, 6-2.
   "My second doubles improved 100 percent. It was a very impressive Scott Rein. His serve got real strong," said Dragos, who is working with Gutierez on improving his volleys and the way he mentally approaches matches. Dragos sees Gutierez as a dominant player if he improves in those areas.
   Since only one match went over two sets, Florence had a good practice after the final match.
   Florence also practiced after a 5-0 drubbing at Pemberton on Monday. The regular lineup of Gutierez, Senni, Hand, Molimock and Lopez and Rein and Centofanti all posted straight sets victories over an overmatched Pemberton squad.
   All Florence’s regulars won straight set victories in a 5-0 home win over Palmyra on Tuesday.
   Hand’s 6-2, 6-0 win over Mikey Tesouza at third singles was the most impressive triumph.
   "Jon Hand had the toughest match," said Dragos, whose third singles’ star led 3-2 before winning nine straight games to take the match.
   Florence (5-2) was scheduled at Holy Cross yesterday (Wednesday). Today (Thursday) the Flashes will play in a special Burlington County Tournament.
   Florence is scheduled to host Rancocas Valley on Monday.
   NBC



   Playing a tight schedule which just allowed for weekend breaks, the Northern Burlington County Regional High School boys’ varsity tennis team won three out of its last five matches.
   It all began with NBC’s 5-0 win at Pemberton on April 13. In that one Jaren Anacan captured an exciting 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 win over Joe Jantas at first singles.
   Hassan Chaudhry and Doug Zytko (first doubles) beat Brett Young and Dave Warner 6-1, 7-6 (7-4). However, Dave Isenmen (second singles), Ryan Quinn (third singles), and Dave Tong and Brandon D’Amato (second doubles) all won easy matches for NBC.
   "We played very well at every spot," said NBC head coach Larry Young.
   On Thursday, Mighty Moorestown beat the same powerful NBC lineup, 5-0, at Moorestown.
   "It was just a different league all together. They are really strong," said Young of the Moorestown match.
   Even with a couple of lineup changes, NBC clubbed Willingboro, 5-0, at Northern last Friday.
   Quinn moved up to second singles for Isenmen, who played first singles for Anacan, and beat Francesco Bonilla 6-2, 6-0.
   However, the big story was Kevin Lawton’s 6-1, 6-4 win over Jay Blasse at third singles. Lawton had been called up from the junior varsity team just for the match.
   Isenmen beat Stefan Kostic 6-0, 6-4 at first singles. And NBC’s regular doubles teams won easy straight set decisions.
   The Greyhounds had played great tennis all year until they hosted Delran on Monday.
   "We got hammered (0-5). They’re a really good team and we didn’t play well. It was our first bad day," remarked Young, whose regulars all lost.
   NBC, however, rebounded with a good day on Tuesday as the Greyhounds used their regular lineup to blank Burlington Township 5-0.
   NBC (8-2) was scheduled to host Moorestown yesterday (Wednesday). NBC is scheduled to play in the Burlington County Open today (Thursday). NBC is scheduled to host Burlington Township on Friday.