Girls Tennis Improves to 14-1 Heading Into the Tournament

It was another great performance for Essex County's top team as the Millburn girls tennis team defeated the visiting West Essex girls 5-0 on Wednesday afternoon in Millburn. The Millers, who advanced to 14-1 with the victory, dropped just six games in the match.

Both freshman Maddie Stearns (second singles) and sophomore Tatiana Cherne (third singles) of Millburn won in straight sets without dropping a game and accounted for the first two points for the Millers. First singles star Alex Stone won 6-0, 6-1 over Carly Agrifolio, to seal up the win for Millburn.

"I played really well, she's a strong player," Agrifolio said of facing Stone. "I play better against tougher opponents and I stayed in and I made her work for her win. Every game went to deuce and I know she had to work for it."

Millburn's second doubles group of Lauren Cohen and Julia Schaevitz accounted for their fourth point, defeating Steph Rosen and Amanda Alhout, 6-0, 6-1.

At first doubles, Blair Shulman and Lynnli Wang put up a good fight against Millburn's duo of Sami Schaevitz and Amy Osserman. But the Miller girls were a bit too much and won 6-2, 6-2.

Despite the score, many of the West Essex players were not disheartened by the loss, considering that the Millers are the number four team in the state, second in Group 3 and have not lost a county match this season. They knew that Millburn was going to be tough.

"I feel that we tried our hardest, because they're really tough competition," said West Essex third singles starter Lacy Tell. "We're just trying our best to keep in the games and never give up."

For both squads Wednesday's match served as a much needed tune-up for the upcoming state tournament. Rain over the last week forced most teams to miss a week of games.

Top-seeded Millburn, and winners of the last four North II Group 3 state sectional championships, awaits the winner of Rahway and Somerville for a second round match on Tuesday. Also, the Millers will be sending Stone to the state singles championship this weekend where the junior hopes to get through the opening four rounds of play and make the final eight at Mercer County Park. Stearns also will compete in the tournament.

"It's tough, they're all good players [in the tournament]," said Millburn head coach Elliot Lovi. "I think the difference between Alex and the players who are more successful is that her opponents are willing to stay in the points longer. I think Alex tries to finish points too quickly."

First doubles regulars, Emily Bary and Patricia Chau, will be competing in the doubles state tournament this weekend too. They enter as the top seed in the state and as favorites to win it all. Bary won the doubles championship two years ago before moving to third singles last season, while Chau teamed up with Jenna Berkencamp last season to make the state semis.

"They're experienced doubles players and very successful doubles players," Lovi said of Chau and Bary. "They're the first seed and I would think they're the favorite. They really picked up their game the last day of the county tournament. They're good, they play very aggressive doubles."

West Essex, which fell to 2-8, plays its first round match on the road on Thursday afternoon as the ninth seed in the North II Group 2 state sectional championships against Fort Lee. If they win, they'll get a date with top seeded McNair on Tuesday. The Lady Knights made the finals a year ago, and may be a tough out because of tough competition played in the county.

"I think we're definitely really well prepared because the teams that we're playing in the state tournament don't measure up to these teams," said second singles West Essex starter Niki Entin. "This year we have a lot of potential to do a lot better."