As a perennial title contender in state Prep B competition, the Princeton Day School girls’ tennis team has tended to reload rather than rebuild as it has lost stars to graduation over the years.

Despite saying goodbye to singles standouts Maria Martinovic and Emily Dyckman from its Class of 2015, PDS hasn’t skipped a beat this season as it has started 3-0.

Panther head coach Ed Tseng is encouraged by his team’s play in the early going. “I am very pleased,” said Tseng, who has guided PDS to three straight Prep B crowns.

“We lost our second and third singles, which could be a big blow to a team. We have a deep program.”

Tseng is quite pleased to have senior Renee Karchere-Sun returning at first singles.

“Renee is playing great,” said Tseng. “We are very happy to have her back at No. 1. She is playing smarter this year; she is going to have a good season.”

At second singles, PDS has a great addition in freshman Sydney Vines. “She has good tournament experience, she is a solid player,” said Tseng of Vines.

“She plays a lot. Even though she has a lack of experience at the varsity level, I think she is going to be great for us. She already has been.”

The squad’s depth is evidenced by the move of Arya Ja from doubles to the singles lineup.

“Arya went from doubles to third singles and, in my opinion, is a better singles player anyway than doubles so that works nicely,” said Tseng.

“She has got powerful ground strokes and powerful serves. She is a very solid third singles player.”

The PDS first doubles team boasts a powerful connection as it features a pair of sisters, senior Devika and freshman Tarika Kumar.

“The Kumar sisters are playing doubles together by request, they play well together,” said Tseng.

“I asked the older one (Devika) who do you want to play with and she said my sister. I said let’s give it a shot and see how you play together. Let’s play some challenge matches, and it worked out.

At second doubles, a pair of veterans, Anna Kovacevich and Tauria Salvati, are working together well.

“Anna is very aggressive at the net and as well as Tauria,” added Tseng. “I think their experience is huge. We are fortunate to have them as our second doubles team, they are pretty close to our first doubles. I think from top to bottom, we are pretty deep.”

In Tseng’s view, his squad’s depth makes it a title contender in the upcoming Mercer County Tournament.

“Overall as a team, I always like our chances,” asserted Tseng, whose team has matches at Peddie on September 24 and at Blair on September 26 before starting play in the county tournament on September 28 at Mercer County Park.

“There are a lot of strong teams and I think we are one of them. I think anything can happen on a daily basis, especially at counties. I think we got a shot and it comes down to how we play on those two days.”