By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
Amanda Binder’s return to the United States improved the West Windsor-Plainsboro High North girls tennis team.
The junior moved back from Germany this year, and she moved up from third singles to second singles Thursday for a win as third-seeded Knights remained unbeaten on the season with a 3-2 victory over No. 14 Manalapan in the Central Jersey Group IV first round.
”The first singles player was pretty good,” Binder said. “The other players were also quite good but we managed to win our matches.”
Binder won at second singles, her freshman sister Nora Binder and senior Arielle Bosworth won in straight sets at first doubles as did Michelle Lee and Ruchi Vyas at second doubles as the Knights advanced to host No. 6 Hunterdon Central today.
”Hunterdon Central I’m really scared about,” said Knights head coach Rich Arnold. “They have two outstanding singles players. We could lose No. 1 and 2. They lost to Montgomery, 3-2. The Hunterdon Central girls both won the singles and the first doubles went three sets. Hunterdon Central is not going to be easy.”
Top-seeded West Windsor-Plainsboro South also remained unbeaten with a 4-1 win over Hillsborough in the CJ IV first round. Angela Weng won at second singles, Megan Reilly captured third singles, Angela Li and Sanjana Ravi took first doubles and Margaret MacArthur and Kim Wong won at second doubles. The Pirates will host No. 8 seed East Brunswick today.
Second-seeded Montgomery High was a 5-0 winner over No. 15 seed Howell. Emily Szkudlarski took first singles, Shannon Lu won at second singles, Lily Chu was victorious at third singles, Emily Roeper and Kim Szakats won first doubles and Claire Boudreau and Julia Spiegler won second doubles. The Cougars will host No. 7 seed Freehold Borough today.
Top-seeded Princeton High School had a bye in the first round of the CJ III tournament. They will host No. 8 seed Middletown South on Wednesday in the quarterfinals as they look to build on their Mercer County Tournament championship.
WW-P North first-singles’ Kema Tuchscherer and MCT second-singles runner-up Audrey Chen figure to have their hands full today, but Binder has been a reliable weapon for the Knights in her return. Binder’s family moved back from Germany two months ago.
”We lived here before,” Amanda said. “Eight years ago we moved. It’s different to be here, but since we already know the language, it was easy to come here and settle down.”
Binder and her sister started playing tennis here before they moved. They paused when they moved to Germany until they found a tennis club, but have been playing since then. Making the WW-P North team helped them in their return.
”They were our first friends when we arrived in America,” Binder said. “They’re really friendly people. They’re great to have around. They’re just a great team.”
The two still had each other. They can hit together, and they helped each other with the transition.
”It’s definitely nice to have my sister there,” Binder said. “It’s nice to have someone I know. In the beginning when we came to try out, it was nice to have someone I knew. It’s nice to have her support when I’m playing and give her my support when she’s playing.”
The Knights are a far better team with the gift of the return of the Binder sisters. They didn’t know what to expect, and still have to ask teammates about what they are facing with each opponent. They didn’t know what to expect upon their return.
”We didn’t know how the other girls played,” Binder said. “This whole thing is new to us. In Germany, we were in a club with a team. We didn’t really have a team in our school. We would go to tournaments and they would just pick girls to play. I didn’t know what to expect with how the other girls would play.”
They have been a perfect fit. And they are in two of the Knights’ most successful flights so far this season.
”Amanda and No. 1 doubles have been pretty consistent,” Arnold said. “Amanda has only lost once — in counties. She hasn’t lost in a dual match. No. 1 doubles has only lost once, to Princeton in counties. Princeton, they’re strong. They’re about the only team that can possibly beat Millburn.”
Arnold like the pairing with Bosworth and Nora Binder. Bosworth has helped Binder adjust to varsity tennis.
”Arielle is playing very good doubles,” Arnold said. “She is fearless and she’s improved. She’s a senior. She’s got the freshman. Nora can be really good or she can go off and make a lot of mistakes. Arielle keeps her in check. They have good chemistry.”
The singles lineup has been consistent. Chen has not lost to a second singles player aside from the MCT. Binder is the same way.
”I think she really doesn’t want to lose,” Arnold said. “She’s a very good competitor. When she’s relaxed and confident, she’s very, very good.”
That competitive side has helped against unfamiliar foes. The Knights had not played Manalapan, and they won’t have seen Hunterdon Central play before today. Binder was able to figure out her opponent for a 6-2, 6-0 win.
”It is tough because you don’t know how they play,” Binder said. “You only find out how they play once you start warming up. It was a challenge especially for the first singles player. It’s always harder to not know how they play.”
Binder has had the chance to play some second singles matches as well. She is thrilled to be able to help the team wherever she is asked to secure a point.
”I’m happy to be playing singles,” Binder said. “The competition is great. I really enjoy playing against tough girls. It’s nice to be able to play second singles time to time because sometimes the level of girls playing is higher than when I play third singles.”
Binder appreciated the test that the MCT presented on the cusp of the state tournament. The Knights had little time to relish their third-place finish in the county. The next day, they had to focus on Manalapan.
”I think the team tried really hard,” Binder said of counties. “There were a few tough teams that we went up against and obviously Princeton won first and they were very tough. I played against the (former) second singles girl, and it was a great experience to be able to meet so many different teams and have good matches.
”It was definitely great competition,” she added. “You always play against girls that have different ways to play. You always learn how to play different girls. I think it really helped us prepare for the states.”
Binder was happy to contribute to the opening-round win. She is looking forward to helping the Knights finish out a strong tennis season before she turns her attention to trying out for the WW-P North lacrosse team in the spring. WW-P North’s tennis team still has its most difficult matches ahead.
”We’re 14-0, but we haven’t played the tough teams yet,” Arnold said. “I just hope we keep improving with playing the tougher teams.”
Binder has seen her game develop while gaining knowledge of the area’s tennis scene. She is trying to make her backhand as strong as her forehand, and she is trying to be more aggressive in coming to net.
”I’m pretty happy with how I’ve done and how the team has done,” Binder said. “I feel like I’ve gotten better since the beginning of the games I’ve been playing. I’ve definitely gotten closer with the team.”
