After Graduating Two Top Players, Girls Tennis Looking 'Green'

The Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School girls tennis team is inexperienced, but they remain passionate about their sport.

"We have practice every day at 2 p.m. and they all show up at 1:30,'' head coach Gary Wasserman said. The Raiders, 13-6 last season, graduated top singles player Alex Szczuka, who was their top player for three years. She finished last year 22-5, second only to Westfield phenom Lexi Borr at the Union County Tournament, and won a round at the state titles tournament. The team also lost Neha Pannuri, a captain and the team's number-three singles player, to graduation.

"We're just green,'' Wasserman said.

He will be joined this year by assistant coach Janice White. Her contributions, Wasserman said, will be even more important with so many young players on the team.

"She's terrific with the girls,'' he said. "She's a good mentor.''

The team's lineup will be made up by senior Christina Reiman at first singles, senior Isabel Lopez at second singles and sophomore Alex Sullivan at third singles. Reiman was second singles last year; Lopez played second doubles and Sullivan third doubles.  

Sophomore Alyssa Leyden and senior Betsey Appel are the first doubles team. Lindsay Wilkinson and Gabirelle Mendez have been working together at second doubles.

"It's a matter of finding chemistry,'' Wasserman said. He added that 39 players tried out for the team. The season opens Tuesday at Westfield High School at 3:45.