Haddonfield, Pennsville win state tennis titles

WEST WINDSOR, N.J. - As far as Catherine and Rebecca Senopoulos are concerned, every Group 2 tennis season ends the same way: with Haddonfield winning the state title.

The Senopoulos twins became the first Haddonfield players to start for four consecutive Group 2 state champions Thursday as the Bulldogs beat Holmdel, 4-1, in the title match at Mercer County Park.

"It means a lot to me," said Catherine Senopoulos, who teamed with sophomore Victoria Martinez to win two matches at first doubles. "I started crying, and people were looking at me like I was crazy."

Pennsville won the program's second state title with a 3-2 victory over Leonia in the Group 1 final.

"We've just got scrappy, tough girls who came up here and let loose," Pennsville coach Dan Lamont said.

Haddonfield beat West Essex, 5-0, in the semifinals. The Bulldogs received straight-set victories in both matches from No. 1 singles Taylor Ng, No. 2 Amanda Lanciano, and No. 3 Erica Pascocello.

Rebecca Senopoulos and her sister, freshman Arpie Senopoulos, won their match in straight sets in the semifinals but dropped a three-set match in the finals.

Catherine Senopoulos and Martinez won both of their matches in straight sets. They rallied from a 1-4 deficit in the second set to beat Holmdel's Lauren Byrket and Alicia Lai by a 6-3, 6-4 score.

Those two doubles teams will play again Friday in the state doubles championship match.

"I tried not to think about that," Catherine Senopoulos said. "I wanted to win this match for the team and not worry about [Friday]."

Ng, a junior, will play in the state singles championship match against Linden's Joanna Zalewski on Friday.

"I'm just going to leave it all on the court," Ng said. "I wanted to help us get the team title first. It's a great feeling every time we win it."

Haddonfield (27-0) earned its 18th state title, the most among New Jersey girls' tennis programs.

The results

STATE GROUP 1

Semifinals

Pennsville 4, Glen Ridge 1

Singles: Brynn Buechler, P, halved Kim Baione, 6-2, 6-7 (6); Tori Yeich, P, d. Jess Fuydal, 7-6 (7), 6-2; Amy Rapp, P. d. Paige Moriarty, 6-3, 6-0.

Doubles: Amber Lake and Caitlin Tilton, P, d. Jordan Herr and Kendall Smith, 6-3, 6-3; Brooke Coleman and Lauren Kiger, P, halved Erin Carr and Maddie Baione, 1-6, 6-4, 3-4.

Final

Pennsville 3, Leonia 2

Singles: Simona Levsky, L, d. Brynn Buechler, 6-2, 6-0; Miya Okada, L, d. Tori Yeich, 6-2, 6-0; Amy Rapp, P, d. Alisha Malla, 6-1, 6-1.

Doubles: Amber Lake and Caitlin Tilton, P, d. Maleyna Marks and Victoria Cece, 6-0, 6-2; Brooke Coleman and Lauren Kiger, P. d. Yuri Higuchi and Zoe Kim, 6-2, 6-3.

STATE GROUP 2

Semifinals

Haddonfield 5, West Essex 0

Singles: Taylor Ng d. Niki Entin, 6-1, 6-0; Amanda Lanciano d. Amanda Alhout, 6-3, 6-1; Eric Pascocello d. Stephanie Rosen, 6-2, 6-0.

Doubles: Catherine Senopoulos and Victoria Martinez d. Blair Shulmar and Emma Osmar, 6-0, 6-0; Rebecca Senopoulos and Arpie Senopoulos d. Cassandra Torter and Paige Muzzatti, 6-4, 6-1.

Final

Haddonfield 4, Holmdel 1

Singles: Taylor Ng, Had, d. Caitlin Yip, 6-1, 6-4; Amanda Lanciano, Had, d. Katie McKay, 6-2, 6-3; Erica Pascocello, Had, d. Lucy Wang, 6-2, 6-3.

Doubles: Catherine Senopoulos and Victoria Martinez, Had, d. Lauren Byrket and Alicia Lai, 6-3, 6-4; Nandini Krishnaswamy and Tiffany Huang, Hol, d. Rebecca Senopoulos and Arpie Senopoulos, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.

STATE GROUP 3

Semifinals

Millburn 4, Moorestown 1

Singles: Maddie Stearns, Mill, d. Breezy Maravich, 6-0, 7-6 (4); Alex Stone, Mill, d. Shelby Burke, 6-2, 6-3; Jane Barn, Mill, d. Kelsey Ham, 6-2, 6-0.

Doubles: Rachel Bass and Lauren Culbertson, Moor, halved Jenna Berkenkamp and Stephanie Schmidt, 3-6, 0-3; Kelly Hopkins and Sarah Kim. Moor, halved Patrica Chou and Lauren Cohen, 4-6, 2-5.

Final

Millburn 5, Montville 0

STATE GROUP 4

Semifinals

Bridgewater-Raritan 4, Cherry Hill East 1

Singles: Jamie Silverberg, CHE, d. Arthi Palani, 6-1, 6-1; Cheryl Li, BR, d. Allyson Wolf, 6-3, 6-0; Marissa Sashihara, BR, d. Amanda Elfman, 6-0, 6-0.

Doubles: Avanty Kavi and Kaylyn Kavi, BR, d. Nikita Shukla and Allie Haaz, 6-0, 6-1; Shelly Li and Angela Chen, BR, d. Tyler Haaz and Paige Leone, 6-2, 6-0.

Final

Bridewater-Raritan 4, Livingston 1

STATE NON-PUBLIC A

Final

Red Bank Catholic 4, Pingry 1

STATE NON-PUBLIC B

Final

Newark Academy 5, Ranney 0