By: Rich Fisher
The way Trudy Marmorek sees it, the NFL isn’t the only league opening this week that can boast big-time parity.
The 12th-year Monroe High girls tennis coach sees the Greater Middlesex Conference’s White Division as being the same way.
"Carteret dropped out, they’re not even competing," Marmorek said. "Woodbridge moved up to the Red Division, that bode wells for us because they were always ranked high.
"I’ll tell you what, it’s wide open to anybody out there. I don’t know of any real individual stars except for Marisa (Jendras) and the girl from Bishop Ahr (Christina Pettel).
Fortunately for the Falcons, Jendras is a member of their team. The talented junior made an immediate impact as a freshman when she lost just two matches. She struggled last year as a nagging illness kept her sidelined for a good part of the season, although Jendras still managed a 9-4 mark.
And she is back in full vigor this season and gives Monroe one of the best first singles players in the division.
"She’s in top shape," said Marmorek, whose team is coming off a 12-7 season despite a jumbled lineup for most of the year. "All the strokes are there, she took some private lessons. We’re expecting big things from her.
"She was upset with last season because she wasn’t able to play, so she’s really looking forward to this season."
Also back is junior Jackie Niu, who will play second singles after going a combined 11-7 at second and third singles last year.
"Jackie looks very improved," Marmorek said. "She has some very strong ground strokes and has a nice topspin on the ball. I think we’ll be very strong at first and second singles."
At third singles will be senior Leyna O’Neill, who was a combined 9-9 while playing doubles and some third singles last season.
"Leyna is very excited about playing singles full-time after moving up from doubles," Marmorek said. "And being a senior, she wants to go out with a win."
The doubles teams are comprised of mostly newcomers. First doubles will be held down by junior Ashley Palach and Eleonara Malliani. Palach, who saw time at second doubles last season, made the most of it with a 6-1 record. Malliani is an exchange student from Italy who is here just in time to help the tennis team.
"She looks like she can help us," Marmorek said.
At second doubles will be senior Nicolette Waksmundski and junior Jackie Jesus, who will be seeing their first varsity action.
Also on the squad are juniors Jackie Tzapp and Upasna Natarajan, sophomores Manisha Sashital and Elena Rombalski, and promising freshman Alyssa Cosentino.
"I think we have a really good shot at doing well," said Marmorek, who hopes to improve on last year’s 11-6 Red Division mark. "We have three strong girls at singles. The doubles teams, even though they don’t have a lot of competitive experience, they’ve improved a lot and they’ve been working hard. We only have to win three out of five to win a match."
And in the world of parity, that’s not a tall order.

