Tartans tandem is tough

Abad, Horton boost Prep B favorite Stuart

By: Justin Feil
   Dede Webster has coached some solid teams, and had some accomplished players in her decade coaching the Stuart Country Day tennis squad.
   Alex Abad and Sarah Horton already rank among the best doubles teams she’s had, and they’re only freshmen.
   "They’re good. They’re good together," Webster said. "They’re very mature. I’m astounded. They’ve gotten better and better. I give them a lot of credit. In practice, they always go 100 percent. They’re always, always working and they’re a good team. They haven’t had any bad losses."
   In fact, they’ve had very few losses at all. They lost early in the season while playing first doubles against Lawrenceville in a dual match. They won the Mercer County Tournament at second doubles with wins over such teams as those from Central Jersey Group III finalist Princeton High School and defending Prep A state champion Hun. It was the Raiders’ Rachel Greene and Lauren Latella that Wednesday finally handed Abad and Horton their first loss of the season at second doubles in a 5-0 Hun win.
   "It’s hard to play people that you already played," Horton said. "A lot of the teams we’ve played aren’t Prep B schools. We’ve played a few Prep B schools and we’re looking forward to playing there."
   Abad and Horton are one secret to the Tartans’ success as Stuart heads in as favorites to repeat in the Prep B state tournament that begins Sunday. They’ve helped the Tartans go 7-4 this season after losing their first singles player, Kathryn Kitts, to graduation.
   "We have two very strong doubles teams," Webster said, noting the play of first doubles senior Laura Patterson and junior Comfort Clinton. "There’s hardly any difference. Any challenge between them has been close. So there’s two points there, especially at second doubles. Then we only have to pick up one more point at singles. Clare (Wiles) has done well at second singles. We’ve had quite a few 3-2’s. I’m very pleased. I think the girls are too."
   Abad and Horton, who were part of a 3-2 win over Princeton Day School on Monday for the team’s seventh win, are thrilled to be such a key part of the Stuart success. They found out early that they could make a strong team, even if they weren’t sure of their doubles ability coming into the year.
   "I played doubles a little last year at my club," said Abad, a Yardley, Pa. resident. "I was horrible at it. I didn’t expect to play doubles this year. My doubles game improved so much. My volleys really improved. It made a big part of my game easier.
   "We played one time during preseason. We just played well together. I didn’t really expect it."
   Horton also was far more accustomed to playing singles, though she had some doubles experience from tennis camps. The Princeton resident believes the two of them have games suited to make a formidable combination.
   "Alex has a really good backhand," Horton said. "I do more forehands. She has a really good forehand volley too. When she’s at the backhand side, and when she’s at net, she’s able to volley well. I’m naturally on the forehand side.
   "It helps that we’re both in the same grade. We have a lot of the same classes together and see each other a lot. If one of us misses a shot, we’re not mad at each other."
   The two will try to keep their shots in and continue to work together as they look to wrap up and impressive freshman campaign with a state title. Opponents can’t view them as just freshmen after their record of success that includes most impressively one tournament gold already. The MCT win was just the second ever for a Stuart position, and garnered immediate respect for the combo.
   "It’s changed it a little bit," Abad said. "Now we have a reputation to hold up to. I think this season has gone really well."
   The win came at the perfect time. Abad and Horton had just lost their challenge match to Clinton and Patterson, and were looking to establish themselves in their new position. They wanted to make ensure that they were an asset to the Tartans, who they knew were coming off a state championship year.
   "I was pretty nervous," Abad said. "I heard a lot of stories from last year about how good the team was. I was just trying to keep it up from last year."
   They will try to keep it going at the state championships. The two feel the regular season has helped prepare them for the competition.
   "I think our team feels pretty good going into Prep Bs," Horton said. "It’s still a really big tournament. We’re still nervous. It helps us going in being the favorites. All our players are good at their spots. I think everybody will do well in the tournament."
   Added Abad: "The more competition, the better. My level goes up against better teams. I play better. The best matches we played were against Hun and Princeton."
   There is pressure in being the returning champions, but the Stuart second doubles team has been dealing with first-year pressure all year. They’ve delivered in every key point.
   "We’re happy we’re able to do this as freshmen," Horton said. "It gives us confidence that we’re able to do this. A lot of schools don’t expect a lot of freshmen."
   Plenty now is expected of Abad and Horton, the lone freshmen in the Stuart lineup that includes just one senior. They’ve proven to be just as important at the bottom of that lineup as the top of the Tartans lineup while taking their place among the best doubles teams to ever wear the green-and-white.
   "They’re good," Webster said. "They’re just plain good. They like playing doubles, they like going to net. They’re good."