By: Sean Richards
The Monroe Township girls tennis team isn’t going to add any hardware to the school’s trophy case this year, but you have to like the way Trudy Marmorek’s squad continues to put together a very solid and successful season.
The Falcons were once again up to their winning ways over the last week, trouncing Perth Amboy, 5-0, and then posting a scintillating 3-2 victory over Sayreville.
These results left Monroe at 10-3 on the season, which is pretty darn impressive when you consider the team started out at 0-2.
Also remember the only loss since came in a very close 3-2 setback to a J.F. Kennedy squad in a match in which the Falcons took to the court after only recently learning it no longer had the services of second doubles player Eleonara Malliani. A foreign exchange student, Malliani was forced to leave the team because of the death of her father back home in Italy.
The win over Perth Amboy was obviously not competitive. The victory over Sayreville was as it all came down to the first doubles match involving Monroe’s Ashley Palach and Nicolette Waksmunski.
This pairing came through magnificently as it won the first set, lost the second and then prevailed in a 6-4, stomach-churning, third-set thriller.
"It was a tough match," understated Marmorek. "The teams were very even and it was freezing. It was blowing like crazy. I don’t how the girls even gripped their rackets.
"It was bad. Their hands had to be frozen out there."
The weather might have been frightful, but Monroe had a very warm feeling after also getting victories at first singles from Marissa Jendras and second singles by Jackie Niu. Jendras won her match in two straight sets, while Niu won in three.
With the victory, Jendras remained undefeated in regular-season matches and put herself in a great position to earn all-league honors. The top singles player will be determined when Monroe plays Mother Seton Monday.
The teams played earlier this year, but the Jendras match was halted by darkness. Jendras will complete that match Monday and then play Mother Seton’s top player again the same day.
No matter what happens there, Jendras will probably end up as at least co-player of the year at first singles in the division because the all-league meeting was to have been held Thursday night.
"I think they should wait until next week to hold the meeting when all the matches are completed," said Marmorek. "But they said they’re going to go ahead and have it. This means Marissa will probably share the honor."
Monroe, which was to have played Sayreville again Wednesday, also has remaining matches with Spotswood and Bishop Ahr. The team can’t catch JFK in the standings, but looks to be in great shape in terms of taking second place.
"I think second would be terrific," said Marmorek. "We got off to the slow start and didn’t have Eleonara in the second match against JFK. The team has really put together a nice season."

