You can’t compete for championships from each year if you can’t reload. Ron Bruh’s Colts Neck Cougars are looking to become the Shore Conference A North Division power. Last fall, they swept to the title without dropping a match to a division opponent on the way to an overall 16-3 season.
The team did lose its first and second singles players, which to a lesser program would be a crushing blow.
“In A North, it’s a matter of depth,” said Bruh.
And, the Cougars have that depth with Britney Dupuis and Sarah Greenberg stepping in to takeover at first and second singles, and the team hasn’t missed a beat.
With their 3 ½-1 ½ win over Freehold Township on Wednesday, the Cougars took control of the division. They’ve beaten both Marlboro and Freehold Township, their biggest hurdles the first time around, and stand at 4-0 despite an entirely new singles lineup.
Dupuis played third singles last year and has made the adjustment to competing against the top players in the Shore at first singles.
“It’s a huge jump to first singles and she’s made it,” said Bruh of his senior. “She is extremely consistent and frustrates opponents.”
Freshman Greenberg came in and earned her position in the singles lineup. Much like Dupuis, she can frustrate her competition by keeping the ball in play.
“She has great footwork,” said Bruh. “She is always in the right position.”
Junior Melissa Terry saw limited action last year but came back this fall to win the third singles slot. In the first match of the season, she proved she could play well under pressure. Her three-set win (the final set went to a tiebreaker) provided the winning point in Colts Neck’s 3-2 win over Marlboro.
Michelle Amann and Samantha Keselman are together at first doubles for the second straight year and are playing like a veteran tandem. They are 4-0, the same mark that Greenberg has.
At second doubles, junior Annie Masterson, a doubles veteran, is teaming up with sophomore Grace Min.
Colts Neck’s depth provides the Cougars with a team that can win points anywhere in the lineup.
A look at the Shore Conference Tournament (SCT) field lets you know how good the tennis is in the Freehold District. Four teams will be in the field when the SCT starts this week.
Colts Neck is seeded No. 6 and will host 11th-seeded Toms River North this afternoon.
Freehold Borough (5-1) and Marlboro (4-1) are seeded seventh and 10th, respectively, and will meet in Freehold this afternoon.
Freehold Township, was seeded 13th and opened play on Monday against Pinelands. The winner plays No. 4 Shore Regional in West Long Branch today.
Freehold Township, which lost for the first time, has Alexandra Petcu, a senior this year who is perhaps the best player in the District at first singles. She won her match against the Cougars’ Lisa Goldman and Michelle Caravaglio who play second and third singles for the Pats.
Jessica Barofsky and Alyssa Critelli are the first doubles team for the Pats. They took Keselman and Amann to three sets in their match.
Brianna John and Victoria Andre play second doubles.
Marlboro, once the dominant program in the division has remained one of the Shore’s top programs. The Mustangs’ 3-2 loss to Colts Neck the first time around is proof they remain in the championship hunt.
Michelle Dassa, Danielle Dellaccio and Lauren Ngyuen make up the Mustangs singles lineup.
Gayle Rotmil and Renata Aleknovich and Rachel Geer and Marissa Cohen have been the doubles teams for the Mustangs.
Freehold Borough has six returning starters from a team that contended for the B North title last fall. Added to the mix is freshman Mariel Weisbart, who is playing first singles, making the Colonials even more formidable.
Erica Yi and Wend McDermott, veterans from last year, are playing second and third singles.
Kaitlen Chou and Diana Mak, both ’06 veterans, are playing first doubles, and Lauren Kurlander and Taruja Karmarker are the second doubles tandem.

