Raiders Finish Third in County Tennis Tournament

Gary Wasserman expects a lot from his tennis team at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School. But Wasserman knows his players feel that way already.

So coming into this week’s Union County Tournament at Donald VanBlake Tennis Courts in Plainfield, Wasserman was hoping to see his team perhaps make a top five finish. They did better.

The Raiders finished third — two places better than last year — with 45 points behind runner-up Kent Place (75) and champion Westfield, which won with 96 points.

“I’m ecstatic,’’ Wasserman said. “My thinking was that we’d finish top five, possibly better, but we had a great run Thursday and we’ll see where we go from here.’’

The Raiders, 14-8 last year, are 5-3 with losses to powerful Westfield, East Brunswick and J.P. Stevens. The competition is showing in how well the Raiders are playing.

Senior Alex Szczuka, fifth last year, earned the No. 2 seed and was beaten in the final by Westfield star freshman and lefty server Lexi Borr. Borr, 11-0 overall, blanked her first three tournament opponents. She had given up just six games before the county final. 

But one thing Szczuka accomplished that no other player could do in the first three matches Borr played was win a couple of games. Borr won 6-0, 6-2. Match point was particularly spirited as Szczuka gave a game effort before falling. She lost to Borr by the same score recently in dual meet.

“She’s a great player, so I can’t really complain,’’ Szczuka said. “”It’s that mentality. She beat everybody 6-0, 6-0 to begin with , but she’s a great player to begin with, she moves well, serves it and is consistent. I have to improve my serve a lot in order to keep on to my service games all the time. Apart from that it’s just luck.’’

Senior Neha Pannuri was beaten in the final by Westfield defending champion Debbie Wu 6-0, 6-2. Wasserman was pleased with Pannuri’s game, saying it’s inevitable she’ll improve as the season continues.