Sports
Rangu Advances to Mercer County Tournament Semifinals
Hightstown's other players eliminated from top flight.
Hightstown High School freshman Sneha Rangu won her first two matches Monday and advanced to the semifinals of the Mercer County Tournament.
Rangu, ranked third in the field of girls tennis first singles players, recorded wins over opponents from Steinert and Ewing during the opening round of the MCT, in Mercer County Park. Rangu will get a rematch with Princeton's Sarah Cen in the semifinals, set for Wednesday.
"It should be a very well played and close match again," Hightstown Coach Charles Rorer noted of the rematch.
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Cen won when Princeton and Hightstown faced each other last week. Princeton's 5-0 win included a 7-6 (7-4) win at first singles.
"It was a hot day and Sneha was dehydrated," Rorer noted. "She couldn't even stand up and had to default after a very long first set. She'll be better prepared for the next match. She'll stay hydrated. Hopefully, she can come away with a win."
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The winner of the Cen/Rangu match should face a formidable challenge in the finals, also set for Wednesday. Princeton Day School's Samantha Asch is going for her fourth straight MCT championship.
Rangu was the lone Hightstown player to advance in the championship part of the bracket.
At second singles, Ankita Naraparaju was defeated in the first round. She fought back to win a match in the consolation round.
At third singles, Anagha Babu was defeated in the first round. She also fought back to win a match in the consolation round.
"I thought we could also advance through the first match at second and third singles," Rorer said. "I was expecting we would at least get a win in one of the matches. Unfortunately, it didn't happen."
Samantha Kaiser and Ericka Asis were defeated at first doubles in their opening round. The team was also defeated in its consolation match.
Tusli Desai and Krishna Desai were defeated in the opening round at second doubles. The team came back to win its consolation match.
Hightstown is scheduled to be back to the regular season on Friday at Lawrence.
