Hightstown Girls Tennis Coach Expecting Improved Team

Despite losing nearly half its starting roster to graduation, the Hightstown High School girls tennis team will start the season as an improved squad at the top of its lineup.

After a few matches in 2010, Anagha Babu was injured and missed the remainder of the season. Babu was playing first singles at the time. Her injury caused Ankita Naraparaju to be moved up from second to first singles.

This means Hightstown is returning two first singles players for the 2011 season. Neither earned that spot in the challenge matches.

Sheha Rangu, just a freshman, will start the season as the first singles player.

"She was a real surprise," noted Charles Rorer, who is entering his first season as the Hightstown head coach after previously serving as an assistant.

"[Rangu] is a young and aggressive player with a lot of talent," Rorer said. "It'll be interesting to see what she does this year and in the years to follow."

Naraparaju, a senior, is back in the second singles spot.

Babu, a junior, will start the season as the third singles player.

"Hopefully, she'll have a healthy and successful season," Rorer said on Babu.

Erick Asis, a junior, and Sami Kaiser, also a junior, will open the season as the first doubles team. Asis played second doubles last year. Kaiser was one of the alternates on Hightstown's team.

Tulsi Desai (senior) and Krishna Desai (sophomore) will be at second doubles. Tulsi was an alternate last year on the team. Krishna played for Hightstown's JV team.

"They are working their way up," Rorer said.

Justin Bauman will serve as the assistant coach for the team.

Hightstown is set to open the season at 4 p.m. Sept. 7 against Steinert.

"We should be better than last year," Rorer noted of Hightstown's 8-9 season in 2010. "We're looking to break .500. We really should be able to do that. It should be a good season for us."