READY POSITION: Princeton High boys’ tennis player Tyler Hack waits for the ball in a match last spring. Sophomore Hack has displayed his versatility, playing at singles this spring as PHS works through some early season injuries. The Little Tigers, who topped Trenton 5-0 last Monday to improve to 3-1, are slated to host Robbinsville on April 10 and then play at Hamilton on April 12. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

For Sarah Hibbert, the die is usually cast by the time the regular season rolls around for her Princeton High boys’ tennis team.

The preseason is devoted to challenge matches and figuring out who is going to play in the three singles spots and who will be combining to form the two doubles combinations.

But when the 2013 season started last week, PHS was in a state of flux with two of its top players, junior Brock DeHaven and sophomore Adib Zaidi, out with injuries.

“It has been quite difficult; usually I spend the preseason making sure I have things right with the lineup,” said PHS head coach Hibbert, who guided the Little Tigers to a 13-3 record last spring.

“I don’t like scrambling; it can make it tough for the seedings for the counties and the states. Brock fractured his ankle after a week of preseason. Adib is out with an elbow injury. We were not able to finish the challenge matches due to injuries. I hope they both come back at the same time  so we won’t have to change up doubles twice. We have a lot of transition this year, we graduated four and we got two new players that weren’t freshmen and we have some freshmen.”

Despite having players out of position, PHS has shown plenty of mental toughness this spring, getting off to a 3-1 start.

Hibbert pointed to the team’s 4-1 loss to defending Group III Central Jersey sectional champion Hopewell Valley on April 2 as a positive.

“We were pretty competitive considering that we were missing two of our top players,” said Hibbert, whose team’s lone victory in the HoVal match came from sophomore Tyler Hack at third singles. “Tyler had a great match. He didn’t let the cold or wind bother him.”

While the first doubles team of junior Zach Hojelbane and freshman Lucas Mitchell and the second doubles pair of junior Zack Kleiman and senior Eddy Zheng both lost to HoVal, Hibbert liked the competitive fire they displayed.

“They haven’t been together long; I was pleased with the way they hung in there against HoVal,” said Hibbert, whose team topped Allentown 5-0 last Friday and then defeated Trenton 5-0 last Monday and is slated to host Robbinsville on April 10 and then play at Hamilton on April 12.

“They fought hard against guys with a lot more varsity experience. They had one match being paired together and they were thrown in against one of the toughest teams. The first doubles went to a tiebreaker and the second doubles lost 3 and 4, they were in the match the whole way.”

The addition of senior Feeney and DeHaven makes PHS a tougher team.

“Michael is a senior, he was previously devoted to soccer and he has played tennis outside of school,” said Hibbert.

“As a senior, he decided that he wanted to come out and be a part of the team. He is very quick, he runs everything down. He has good ground strokes and he is quick around the court. Brock is a junior. He was in Princeton through middle school and then his family moved out to Colorado. Now they have moved back. He hits the ball well, he is willing to mix up his style of play. He is consistent and steady.”

Once Hibbert gets her lineup set, she believes the Little Tigers will show the consistency that has made the program a traditional local power.

“I will be grateful for the guys who do come back,” said Hibbert, who is expecting to have DeHaven and Zaidi back in action this week.

“There is a lot of talent. The sophomores bring experience and depth. The new additions give us strength at the top of the lineup. I am looking forward to getting everything finalized so we can have clarity and put our attention on tennis.”