A Pleasant Return: Five Starters Back for Caldwell

With the return of its entire singles lineup and one doubles team, there's plenty of optimism for the Caldwell High girls tennis team this fall.

The Chiefs finished 12-9 overall and 12-4 in the Super Essex Conference's Liberty Division, placing third behind Glen Ridge and Verona.

The lone graduates from the team that lost in the first round of the state tournament last year was the first doubles tandem of Jen Sanders and Katie Krych.

Leading the group of returnees is Rosalinda Boronat at first singles. Facing the county's elite players, Boronat finished just 5-16 last year.

"When she goes up against the better players she does not have a great record," Caldwell coach Jack Kloss said. "She's got a great ground stroke, but she has to be consistent."

Koss, however, credits Boronat for her mental fortitude against the top players.

"She's tough kid and just shrugs it off," Kloss said.

The coach expects the team's depth to be its strength at second and third singles, along with first doubles.

Senior Jane Garfinkel, who was 11-10 overall and 10-6 in the conference last year, returns to the No. 2 singles position.

"She's a plugger," Kloss said of his three-year varsity player. "She knows how to win and stay with it. She's got a great mind [for tennis]."

Junior Sara Lobdell returns to the third singles position and having the best record on the team last season, going 12-9 overall and 11-5 in the conference. Lobdell had a knack for pulling out three-set victories.

"She just settles in," Kloss said. "She jokes around and nothing fazes her."

After playing together for much of 2009 at second doubles, Kimberly Ma and Megan Koch move up to the No. 1 doubles position this fall. The pair finished 14-7 overall and 12-4 in the conference.

Senior Eliza Edelberg will likely be paired at second doubles with either seniors Jen Dul or Emily Stricker or sophomore newcomer Lindsey Enchelmaier.

(Matches at 4 p.m.)

Sept. 13         at Mt. St. Dominic
Sept. 14         at Solomon Schechter
Sept. 15         at Glen Ridge
Sept. 20        at Belleville
Sept. 22        Nutley
Sept. 23        Essex County Tournament, TBA
Sept. 24        at Verona
Sept. 25        Essex County Tournament, TBA
Sept. 27        Montclair
Sept. 29        Cedar Grove
Oct. 1              Bloomfield
Oct. 4             at West Orange
Oct. 6             Mt. St. Dominic
Oct. 8             Glen Ridge
Oct. 11            Solomon Schechter
Oct. 15            Belleville
Oct. 18           at Nutley
Oct. 22           Verona
Oct. 25           Cedar Grove
Oct. 27           at Bloomfield
Oct. 29           West Orange