Ocean City Girls' Tennis Advances to Sectional Semifinals

Heather Mazzeo and Eva Nusbaum walked off the Ocean City High School tennis courts on Tuesday afternoon looking as if they didn't even play their second doubles match.

The same could be said about Ocean City's first doubles team of Lauren Loggi and Leah Kornberg.

However, their performances helped No. 2 Ocean City advance to the NJSIAA Group III South semifinals after defeating No. 7 Oakcrest, 4-1. 

"I think we played amazing," Nusbaum said. "We were a little rusty because we haven't played in a couple of days, but other than that I think we played well."

"It was fun," said Mazzeo, who along with Nusbaum clinched Tuesday's win.

The doubles pairings hope to continue their winning ways in the next round.

Ocean City hosts No. 3 Lacey Township at 2 p.m. on Thursday. Lacey defeated No. 11 Hammonton, 4-1, on Tuesday.

The doubles teams' success has been one of the reasons why the Red Raiders are 9-1 and just one win away from the sectional finals.

Mazzeo and Nusbaum breezed to a 6-0, 6-2 win over Rachel Fillippone and Julia Weiss.

"It felt great," Nusbaum said of clinching the win. "It feels good."

Loggi and Kornberg, who are scheduled to finish their Cape-Atlantic League championship match on Wednesday, breezed to a 6-2, 6-0 win over Oakcrest's Mary Furgione and Summer Conover.

"I think the reason we are so successful is because of our depth," Ocean City coach Samantha Newgas said. "Our first, second and third singles are good and consistent players. On any given day, they can beat each other. Our first doubles team played together last year, and our second doubles team are new partners and I think it took some time for them. Now they look great together. They play well together and they are more aggressive."

Aida Pleho made quick work of the Falcons' Erin DeSandro, winning 6-3, 6-1, at second singles.

The Red Raiders' Gabby DuBrille and Carling Mott both went three sets against the Falcons. Mott shut out Oakcrest's Sarah Goodman in the first set, but dropped the second set, 4-6, in the third singles match. However, she rebounded for a 6-2 win in the third set.

DuBrille outlasted Connie Capone in a tiebreaker in the first set, winning 7-3. Capone won the last two sets, 6-2, 6-2.

"We were supposed to play them (earlier in the season) but our match was rained out, but I heard good things about them," Newgas said of Oakcrest. "I thought it would be more challenging than the first round, and it was."

Next up is Lacey with a trip to the sectional finals at stake.

"That should be an intense and challenging match," Newgas said.

"It's awesome," Mazzeo said of competing in the playoffs. "I think we are going to do really well. Hopefully we will keep winning."