Pirates’ No. 1s handed first loss
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
If Larissa Lee Lum remains at first doubles next season, she will do so with a third new partner and some even loftier expectations.
The West Windsor-Plainsboro South sophomore had an excellent freshman year while being paired with Allison Kempf. After Kempf graduated, Lee Lum paired with Annie Scharfstein, another senior, and raised the bar further with an even stronger season.
Lee Lum and Scharfstein were unbeaten through their first 20 matches of the season, including a run to the team sectional finals to the state doubles tournament semifinals.
”All in all, both years were great,” Lee Lum said. “I’m glad I can be partners with a senior and make her year good.”
The Pirates pair was finally knocked out by Cherry Hill East’s Allison Burkhardt and Christian Bell in Saturday afternoon’s doubles tournament semifinals, just a couple of games shy of the finals.
”I think personally being aggressive at net works for me,” Lee Lum said. “Maybe that was part of the problem. I couldn’t get involved at the net because they hit so hard.”
The loss couldn’t detract from an incredible season in which they were as good as a given for the Pirates. They won their Mercer County Tournament flight, and were a winner in WW-P South’s sectional finals loss before advancing to the state doubles semifinals to cap their season.
”I think we knew we could play well together,” Lee Lum said. “She came from first singles. I’m happy to have a partner with that experience. I don’t know if anyone expects to go that far.”
The Pirates, who were in the 5-8 seeding, knocked off third-seeded sisters Caroline and Juliaane Davis of Bridgewater-Raritan, 7-5, 7-6 (7-5) Saturday morning. There was plenty of satisfaction in that win.
”We got further than we were supposed to,” said Lee Lum, who along with Kempf reached the third round of the doubles tournament last year.
Lee Lum made her varsity debut last year, but she had been around the Pirates longer. As an elementary school student she attended her sister Kim’s doubles matches for the Pirates. Now it is Lee Lum that is enjoying success at the high school level.
”In general the experience of playing more matches helped me,” Lee Lum said. “This year, Annie really helped me to stay positive during matches. I tend to get a little off. She keeps me positive and keeps me fighting instead of giving up.”
Lee Lum will use those lessons as she comes back next year as an experienced veteran of doubles play. In her first two seasons, she has been a proven winner as a doubles partner. By next year, she could have another one and another chance at a state title.
”It’s pretty crazy,” Lee Lum said. “I don’t think it really matters. If we have good chemistry and get along, it’ll be fine.”

