Millburn Pair Crowned State Doubles Champs

Third time's the charm for Millburn High after being runner-up in the state doubles championship in 2011 and 2012.

On Thursday, Andrew Nolff and Evan Imegu capped their successful season for the state's No. 1 high school team by slicing through the draw of the NJSIAA's doubles competition to take home the title. 

Seeded second behind Newark Academy's Ben Hyatt and Jonathan Holtzman, Nolff, a senior, and Imegwu, a junior, were doubles partners from the start of the 2013 season, as were Hyatt and Holtzman. Both teams had little problem gaining a berth in the finals, though each hit a speed bump in their semifinal matches, Millburn going three sets against Ridge and Newark Academy three sets against Livingston.

The NJSIAA singles and doubles matches are all played at Mercer County Park. Thursday's finals, played on a cloudy, slightly breezy day, were attended by family and friends of the competitors who watched the seesawing proceedings with baited breath.

Nolff and Imegwu got off to a slow start, allowing Newark Academy's deft pair to dictate the points and handing them easy volleys. Millburn lost the first set 6-2. After a consult with Head Coach Bill Wickenheisser, they regrouped and adjusted their game, taking the second set 6-3.

In the third set, Millburn went up 4-1 with strong play, but faltered as Newark Academy picked up some steam with a couple of impressive smashes from the baseline and climbed back to 4-3. Nolff and Imegwu answered with their own effective overheads and net play and took the next game for 5-3. Newark Academy held serve for 5-4, but Millburn had the last word. When Nolff served for the match, Millburn also had the title.

Nolff's and Imegwu's victory adds to the high school's mountain of tennis booty this season: the varsity team won the Millburn Tennis Challenge, the Newark Academy Tournament, and, for the second year running, the NJSIAA section, group, and Tournament of Champions -- and now the doubles cup is also theirs.