Lady Millers inch closer to TOC title

EDISON - The Millburn girls tennis team moved one-step closer to winning its 11th Tournament of Champions title as it blitzed Bridgewater-Raritan, 5-0, in the TOC semi-finals on Tuesday at the Garden State Tennis Center in Edison.

            For the last few years Millburn has fallen to the TOC champion either in the final or in an earlier stage.

            For 2011 the Millers would like to not have that distinction as they face Red Bank Catholic in the TOC finals on Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the Garden State Tennis Center as they go for the first TOC title since 2007.

            The last trip to the TOC finals came in 2008 when Millburn fell to East Brunswick. The 2008 trip came after the Lady Millers won back-to-back TOC titles in 2006 (over East Brunswick) and 2007 (over Tenafly).

            Against Bridgewater-Raritan on Tuesday, Millburn sophomore Maddie Stearns clinched the victory with a 6-2, 6-2, straight sets victory over Bridgewater-Raritan freshman Arthi Palani.

            Before the Stearns win, the Millburn second doubles team of juniors Patricia Chau and Lauren Cohen dropped Bridgewater-Raritan's Angela Chen and Shelly Li at 6-1, 6-0 and freshman Jane Bary won the third singles match in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2, over Bridgewater-Raritan's Marissa Sashihara to give the Millers a quick 2-0 lead.

IN SHORT - The Millers were just too experienced and talented in defeating an inexperienced Bridgewater-Raritan team on the courts.

            In addition the 2011 edition of the Millburn team wanted to break the stigma of falling to the TOC winner through the stages the last few years and have a chance to break that on Wednesday.

            Even before the start of the Tuesday afternoon match, the Lady Millers were looking to continue the Millburn tradition of tennis excellence and also give their first year head coach, Bill Wickenheisser, who took over for long-time Millers head coach Elliot Lovi.

            Despite being the first year head coach, Wickenheisser was the assistant to Lovi for the last decade.

MILLERS PLAYER OF THE GAME - MADDIE STEARNS - In her first full season at the Millers number one singles, the sophomore was dominant against one of the up-and-coming players in Bridgewater-Raritan freshman Arthi Palani.

OTHER KEY PERFORMANCES -

Alex Stone - The senior, who could be a number one singles player on almost every New Jersey high school team, makes a great one-two combination along with Stearns. Stone dominated Bridgewater-Raritan's Cheryl Li, 6-1, 6-2.

Jane Bary - The freshman had the quickest match of the five matches for the Millers as she defeated Bridgewater-Raritan's Marissa Sashihara, 6-0, 6-0.

Jenna Berkenkamp and Stephanie Chen Schmidt - The first doubles team had defeated Bridgewater-Raritan's doubles team of Avanty Kavi and Kaylyn Kavi in the state individual tournament and did it against on Tuesday with a 6-2, 6-2, victory.

THEY SAID IT -

"My forehand was working very well. My backhand is more consistent and my forehand is on and off," said Millburn sophomore Maddie Stearns.

"He's a real good coach and he knows what he is talking about," said Stearns about her first year head coach Bill Wickenheisser.

"This is our first season together and it has worked out real well," said senior Jenna Berkenkamp who is first doubles with sophomore Stephanie Chen Schmidt as the pair defeated Bridgewater-Raritan's Avanty Kavi and Kaylyn Kavi, 6-2, 6-2.

"We feel fabulous and it has been a great season together," said Stephanie Chen Schmidt.

 "They (Bridgewater-Raritan) are a very good team and when you get to this point, they are all very good teams," said Wickenheisser.

UP NEXT - Millburn High School takes on Red Bank Catholic in the state Tournament of Champions final on Wednesday at 1 p.m.