By Joshn Lashley, Special Writer
Another season is in the books for the Steinert High School girl’s tennis program and it’s another one in which the student-athletes on the roster and coaches alike can hold their heads up with pride. Not just because the Spartans once again finished with an overall winning record, competed well in the regular season against conference and non-conference opponents, as well as in the playoffs, but because they competed with a solid effort match after match.
Steinert completed the season with a 12-8 record and they were 9-7 against Colonial Valley Conference competition. The Spartans were seeded seventh in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III Sectional Tournament and defeated Colts Neck in the opening round. In the quarterfinals, Steinert was defeated by second seeded Ocean Township. Ocean Township advanced to the Sectional finals before losing to Princeton.
“We played well in the first round [against Colts Neck] and as the No. 7 seed we proved we were closely matched with Ocean,” Steinert head coach Bob Howland said. “Our [regular season] match with Northern Burlington, which we won 5-0 [was memorable]. They were a highly regarded team with a great first singles player and strong doubles.”
A number of players in the lineup emerged as strong competitors for the Spartans.
“Gaby Bennett, a senior at No. 1 singles, took on the best player on the other team in every match,” he said. “She ended the year at 12-5. Amanda Phillips, a senior at third singles provided us a solid player who dominated her matches to go 15-2. Michelle Petrilla, a senior, and Danielle Swierczyna, a junior at first doubles, played many tough matches overcoming three setters and tiebreakers to finish 15-3. They also won a first-round match in the (NJSIAA) state doubles tournament.
“These players provided the team season-long consistent play that contributed greatly to our 12-8 record. In addition they led the team to a seventh place finish out of 18 teams in the Mercer County Tournament.”
Amongst the players who strived to improve on a consistent basis for Steinert was senior Paige Conti at second singles.
“[She] finished 11-7 in her matches,” he said. “Her steady improvement during the season and in the Mercer County Tournament was a pleasant surprise.”
The 2015 season may again be bright for the Spartans on the tennis court.
“Although we are losing four seniors from the top of our lineup, there are juniors who will move up to take their place — Danielle Swierczyna, Grace Sperrazza, Isabel Shin, Elicia Inman, Alison Martin and Jessica Potapa,” he said.