Local tennis teams slowed by weather

By: Sean Moylan
   The Florence Township Memorial High School varsity tennis team and Holy Cross played for only 15 minutes before the Flashes’ road opener on Monday was suspended. Yet that was still enough time for someone to come to one conclusion—-Florence is pretty good.
   At first singles Florence’s Jon Hand held a 5-1 lead in the first set versus former Holy Cross doubles standout Brian Bink when play was suspended. Florence Coach Ovi Dragos was even more pleased with the play of his third singles’ standout Joe Molimock, who had a 4-2 advantage over Niko Paleologus, a former first singles player, when heavy rains stopped the action.
   "I’m happy for Joe (Molimock) — this kid works so hard," said Dragos, who works countless hours with all 13 of his players.
   The Lancer’s Mike Jung did hold a slim 2-1 first-set lead in his second singles match over Eric Centofanti. Since the Lancers have only three courts, the doubles teams never even got started. And while any of the matches can swing in either direction, Dragos was more pleased with the "way" his team was playing rather than the early results on the score sheet.
   "The match is very close," added Dragos, who never takes anything for granted on a tennis court. His team’s first match will resume on a yet to be determined date.
   Because of last year’s phenomenal success, the Flashes beefed up this season’s scrimmage schedule to include some pretty great tennis teams. Haddonfield, which is just a sensational tennis team, beat Florence 4-1 on March 27. Molimock played well and won at third singles. Centofanti dropped a very close second singles’ contest.
   In last Thursday’s away match at Woodbury, the Flashes posted a thrilling 3-2 victory. Hand punished his first singles opponent 6-3, 6-1. In first doubles, Florence’s Stuart Lopez and Andrew Monger won easily too (6-3,6-1). And Florence’s second doubles’ tandem of Hans Lopez and Francisco Gordillo put the match away with a win.
   Florence was scheduled to host Moorestown yesterday (Wednesday). Florence is scheduled at Delran on Friday and at Palmyra on Monday. On Tuesday Florence is scheduled to host Pemberton.
NBC
   The Northern Burlington County Regional High School boys’ varsity tennis team was playing some of its best tennis in Monday’s home match versus Moorestown when play was suspended due to rain. Unfortunately, the Greyhounds could not capture the same intensity in Tuesday’s match versus Steinert at Veteran’s Park.
   Steinert beat Northern Burlington, 5-0. Although NBC Coach Larry Young was not overly shocked by the defeat, he was disappointed that his boys didn’t play a little better versus the Spartans, especially since they had played so well the previous day.
   "We played terrible. But in three out of the five positions they (the Spartans) are much better than us," remarked Young.
   The match NBC probably could have won was at second doubles. In that one Steinert’s Matt Giuliari and Mike Ranalli slipped by Northern’s Kevin Lawton and Joe Henry 4-6, 6-4, 7-5. The first doubles match was also fairly close with Steinert’s Spencer Sydorlco and Corey Tuccillo defeating Hassan Chaudhry and Brian Foran 6-2,6-3.
   The Spartans are very tough at first singles and as a result Jon Yu beat NBC’s Jaran Anacan 6-1, 6-0. Only the day before, Anacan had captured three of eight first-set games played against Moorestown’s top singles player. And Moorestown has been the best team in Burlington County for a decade now.
   Steinert’s Mike McDonald beat Ryan Quinn at second doubles 6-1,6-4 while the Spartans’ Andrew Holsman topped Doug Zytko, NBC’s third singles standout, 6-1,6-3.
   Play in the Moorestown match will resume on a yet to be determined date. NBC is scheduled to host Cinnaminson today (Thursday) and Burlington Township tomorrow (Friday). The Greyhounds are then scheduled to play at Rancocas Valley on Monday and at Willingboro on Tuesday.