The Shore Conference A North Division girls tennis picture will become a lot clearer Sept. 25.
That’s when last year’s top two teams, Marlboro High School and Freehold High School, face each other for the first time in Freehold. Both teams have been rolling along with no losses in A North play thus far.
Defending champion Marlboro is as balanced as ever and capable of scoring points at every position. That balance has allowed the Mustangs to win eight straight division titles and makes them a threat to make it nine in a row.
“We’re deep, but we have no real standout,” said head coach Dave Kretzmer, whose club lost just two players from last year’s champions.
That’s why the Mustangs will be counting on their ability to win at every position to be the difference.
One of Marlboro’s two graduates will be sorely missed. Hayley Barnett was the team’s security blanket at first singles — an automatic win.
Marlboro still has a solid singles lineup led by Celina Lee, who moves up from second singles to first. An early season win over Holmdel High School’s Brianna Gibbs proved that she’s up to the challenge of first singles.
Raquel Rosen moves up to second singles, where her power game gives her a big advantage.
While mostly a doubles player, Rachel Ma did get some experience playing singles last year and has slid into the No. 3 slot this season.
The Mustangs have an advantage at first doubles, where Shelby Rush and Grace Zhang are back playing together for a second straight year. Their familiarity with each other makes them a team in every sense of the word.
At second doubles, the Mustangs have Antoinette Gyles and Christine Ku teaming up.
Marlboro is 3-1 overall but 3-0 in A North matches, with wins over Middletown High School North, Freehold Township High School and Middletown High School South. The Mustangs’ lone loss is to the Shore’s No. 1 team, state power Holmdel, 4-1. Marlboro goes up against a very experienced Freehold team that returns six of its seven starters from last season’s 13-4 squad that dropped both matches to Marlboro.
At singles, the Colonials have a pair of seniors who have been varsity players all four of their years at Freehold.
Anjal Prabhat is back at first singles for the third straight year. Alexis Yu is playing second singles for a third straight year as well.
Julia Pardee, who played doubles in previous seasons, moves up to third singles.
Peyton Conover and Sunjana Rajendran are teaming up at first doubles. Shivani Shah, Rebecca Stillman and Maya Patel have been the rotation at second doubles.
Colonials head coach Jon Block has seen his team become one of the Shore’s best in recent years, and the goal is to stay there.
“With six of seven starters returning, I feel that we will be competitive with most of the Shore Conference’s top teams,” he said.
The Colonials are 3-0, with all three wins coming within the division against Middletown North, Manalapan High School and Howell High School.
The rematch between the two A North powers is scheduled for Oct. 6 in Marlboro.
Freehold Township is led by a freshman at first singles, Stephanie Appow. Lauren McAlarney and Autumn Samuels complete the singles lineup.
Jillian Hun and Marisa Wu are playing first doubles, and Kelley Appow and Jenna Wong are at second doubles.
The starting lineup at Howell has Barbara Podvorchani at first singles and Julia Towey and Kelly Hooper at second and third. Podvorchani, a sophomore, was one of the best players in the division last year.
Lining up at doubles are Johanna Connolly and Katei Mauro at first doubles and Olivia Picone and Christian Petty at second.
Manalapan has Katelyn Falescky, Alexis Neuman and Catherine Newman playing singles. Ashley Kwak and Alexandria Yi and Nicole Avenil and Gabriella Avenil play doubles.
Colts Neck High School, which plays in the B North Division, has Rebecca Eagan, Rachaita Traveli and Ashley Hogan at first, second and third singles.
Elizabeth Bell and Sara Duval play first doubles, and Sonya Priven and Alexandra Snyder are at second doubles.