By: Ken Weingartner
Sometimes it can take a while for players on a doubles team to learn about each other and get in sync.
But when the players have known each other since kindergarten, that’s not generally a problem. Such is the case for Monroe High’s first doubles team of Matt Sepe and Kevin Murtha.
Sepe and Murtha, both sophomores, were 7-2 entering yesterday’s opening round of the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament. The duo, which went 4-0 last year at the junior varsity level, was seeded seventh in the GMCT.
"When we decided to play tennis, we knew going in that we would be a doubles team," Murtha said about his rapport with Sepe. "It was a decision on both our parts. It helps as opposed to a team that’s mix and match. Luckily, we work well together."
On Wednesday, Sepe and Murtha defeated a doubles team from John F. Kennedy that is seeded ahead of them in the GMCT. They helped lead the Falcons to a 4-1 win, snapping a three-match losing streak to JFK (including a 4-1 setback earlier this year) and lifting Monroe’s record to 7-2.
"Those two guys are doing a great job," Falcons coach Jim Kushner said. "My favorite part of tennis is doubles and watching doubles teams. They move well together. They’ve learned since the beginning of the year that to win at doubles you’ve got to take the net. They don’t do it with power; they do it with placement. They run everything down, contest every point. They don’t give anything away."
Both of the losses this season for Sepe and Murtha came in three-set matches in which they lost tiebreakers. By beating JFK, they avenged one of those setbacks.
"Getting them back for the loss is good; it gives us some momentum," Sepe said. "The first time we played them it was our first-ever match on varsity. This time, we had more match experience and were ready for them. Hopefully, we can keep it up for the rest of the season."
Of course, Sepe and Murtha aren’t the only players on the squad having solid seasons. Darren Goldberg improved to 9-0 at second singles Wednesday and was seeded fifth in the GMCT.
"Darren always has angles, but lately he’s had pace, too," Kushner said. "When he plays like that, he’s tough to beat."
Ken Stanley was 5-4 at first singles, as was Jasmin Laferriere at third singles. The second doubles team of Lov Patel and Sam Saxena was 3-3 and defeated a previously unbeaten JFK tandem Wednesday.
"I feel real good about the boys," Kushner said. "[Wednesday] was the best we’ve played all year. There was a look of determination on all the players. We played aggressively, like we wanted to win, and weren’t afraid to make shots. The way they’re playing, I’m willing to take my chances against anybody."
VOLLEYS: Monroe’s jayvee team picked up its first win Tuesday, 3-2 over Edison. The squad, which for the first time has a paid coach in Matt Olszewski, is playing an expanded 10-match schedule that includes many larger schools, such as Edison, South Brunswick, J.P. Stevens, and West Windsor-Plainsboro South.
"Matty worked last year as a volunteer and the boys liked him and he did a good job," Kushner said. "It just puts a smile on my face to watch them compete. They’re getting beat, but they’re learning a lot, and that’s the whole purpose.
"It gives them a goal for next season and for the summer. It shows them they can be pretty good if they put the time in. I’m grateful for the support we’ve gotten from the administration. Things are looking up and I couldn’t be more pleased."
