Hopewell looks for a long-awaited win over Princeton.
By: Tim Falls
The Hopewell Valley Central High School varsity tennis team has had plenty of momentum since its impressive performance at the Mercer County Tournament.
The singles players, especially, have been dominant as the Bulldogs prepared for a tough match against Princeton this Friday and the NJSIAA Central III tournament, which starts next week.
The three singles players made the difference in a match against West Windsor-Plainsboro North Tuesday.
Nick Maida took third singles by default while Matt McGranaghan and Aubrey Holmes won at first and second singles, respectively, as the Bulldogs edged the Knights, 3-2, in the completion of a game that was suspended from earlier in the season.
Holmes and Maida won their third-place matches at second and third singles, respectively, as Hopewell Valley tied Princeton for third-place at the Mercer County Championships on April 27.
McGranaghan placed fourth at first singles in the county tournament.
McGranaghan, Holmes and Maida will need to be at the top of their game as the Bulldogs take on Princeton in a Colonial Valley Conference match tomorrow.
"We talked about how to handle Princeton," said Hopewell Valley coach Alma Quinlan, who described how her team will have to hit hard quality shots to come away with a win.
Quinlan added that Hopewell Valley hasn’t defeated Princeton since 1982, the year the Bulldogs won at state title.
Princeton defeated Hopewell Valley in the finals last season.
Quinlan has confidence that her Bulldogs can advance through the NJSIAA Group III Central tournament this season with the strength of her singles players and the depth she has from her doubles teams.
Princeton gained the second seed in the Central III bracket, while fourth-seeded Hopewell Valley will take on fifth-seeded Monroe Township on Tuesday, May 16.
With the win over WW-P North, Hopewell Valley improved to 10-1.
Matt McGranaghan won first singles, 6-3, 6-0.
Quinlan expects even more from McGranaghan against Princeton and in the State Tournament.
"He hasn’t reached his full potential," said Quinlan. "A couple of times, while playing tough matches, he’s struggled. I think mentally he’s ready. It’s just him deciding how easy he’s going to make it for himself."
Aubrey Holmes won second singles, 6-1, 6-1, and remained undefeated in regular season CVC matches.
"He’s got it all," said Quinlan. "He’s strong and hits it hard and he’s a smart tennis player. He’ll adapt his game to make sure he wins."
Quinlan described how Holmes altered his game against WW-P North’s Ed Chang to take the match by switching from hard-hit strokes that kept Chang back to well-placed shots that skipped by the Knight’ second singles player after he moved closer to the net.
Maida won by default because the opponent he started to face at the beginning of the season is out with an injury.
Maida defeated Allentown’s Dan Quintana, 6-2, 6-0, as Hopewell Valley defeated the Red Birds, 5-0, on Monday.
"Nick’s the energizer bunny," said Quinlan. "He’s incredibly fit. He gets to everything. He might be the best No. 3 player we’ve had."
McGranaghan won first singles, 6-0, 6-0, against Allentown, while Holmes won second singles, 6-0, 6-0.
Mike Bolan and Bennett Kelley took first doubles, while Dan Zaffos and Pat McGinn won second doubles.
Prior to that win, the Bulldogs defeated Nottingham, 4-1, last Friday. McGranaghan won first singles, 6-0, 6-0, Holmes took second singles, 6-1, 6-1, and Maida claimed third singles, 6-0, 6-0.
Bolan and Kelley won first doubles, 6-4, 6-2. With the way her team is playing, Quinlan is optimistic in their prospects.
"This is what I, as a coach, would call a dream team," said Quinlan. "We have a lot of talent."
Note: Hopewell Valley was scheduled to play Lawrence yesterday.