Unbeaten Chatham Tennis Dominates Parsippany

The Chatham women's varsity tennis team had all but won Thursday afternoon, until a lightning storm halted the first singles match between Chatham's Nicki Ross and Parsippany's Phoebe Chou.

Ross had won the first set 6-4, and was serving down 4-3 in the second set. That match will be continued whenever the two teams meet again.

Junior Kelsey Perselay, who won her match 6-2, 6-2 over Eva Xu, occupies the Cougars' second singles role. "We had a very focused practice yesterday," she said after the match, "and we really used the skills that we worked on."

Emily Barbey, also a junior, has made a successful switch from a doubles to the third singles role. She won 6-1, 6-0 over Parsippany's Jenny Kim.

"She's been playing well," head coach Bruce Humphreys said. "You know it's early though. There's always room for improvement." 

Chatham's first and second doubles teams both won convincingly as well. Kelsey Hart and Kendall Contri won 6-1, 6-2, while Greta Leberfinger and Caroline McCann won 6-1, 6-1.

Playing for the first time together this year, Hart, a senior, and Contri have formed a formidable duo so far.

"It took some time to get used to playing together," Hart said. "I barley knew her before August. But every match, it's easier to play together. We're doing well I think."

Chatham, which improved to 5-0, will next play at the Academy of St. Elizabeth next Wednesday.