DOUBLE TAKE: Princeton High first doubles players Bella Lependorf, left, and Jordan Johnson celebrate a point last week at the Mercer County Tournament. The pair of freshman Lependorf and senior Johnson went on to win their flight at the MCT, defeating Sabrina Chang and Kirthi Chigurupati of WW/P-North 7-6, 6-3 in the final. The victory by Lependorf and Johnson helped PHS take second of 19 schools in the team standings at the event held at the Mercer County Park tennis complex. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Jordan Johnson is a senior and Bella Lependorf is a freshman but that age difference didn’t prevent them from developing an instant chemistry when they were paired together to play first doubles for the Princeton High girls’ tennis team this fall.

“It is total fun; I love Bella, she is a great player,” said Johnson. “She makes great volleys and can get to a lot of the balls at the net.”

Lependorf, for her part, looks up to Johnson. “It is really nice having Jordan as a partner; she is like a mentor to me,” said Lependorf. “She is a really consistent player, which helps a lot.”

Displaying consistency and grit, the pair captured the first doubles title at the Mercer County Tournament last Thursday, rallying to beat Allison Li and Anya Sharma of WW/P-South 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 in the semis and then edging Sabrina Chang and Kirthi Chigurupati of WW/P-North 7-6, 6-3 in the final.

Their title helped PHS take second of 19 schools in the team standing as it scored 18.5 points with Hightstown tallying 25.5 to win its third straight county crown at the event held at the Mercer County Park tennis complex.

In the championship match, coming through in the first set tiebreaker set the tone for the first doubles pair.

“That was a critical turning point for us; I feel like it could have gone any way, I am just glad we won it,” said Johnson. “We were communicating well; we were just getting to all of the balls.”

Lependorf’s volleying skill helped the team put away a lot of balls. “We started poaching a lot more at the net,” said Lependorf. “It was so exciting.”

For Johnson, getting a title at the MCT is the culmination of a long struggle to earn a spot in the PHS lineup.

“This is my first year on varsity,” said Johnson, noting she played JV in her first three years at PHS. “It means a lot to be able to just come and win this.”

As a newcomer to the squad, Lependorf wasn’t sure what to expect heading into the MCT.

“I didn’t think this would happen; it is just amazing,” said Lependorf.

PHS head coach Sarah Hibbert was proud of the way Johnson and Lependorf made things happen.

“They really played a great tournament, they had a tough draw all the way through,” said Hibbert, noting that the pair topped teams from Peddie and Princeton Day School to advance to the semis.

“They had to work hard the whole time. I told them  when we saw their draw that if you get through these early rounds, it will prepare you better for the later ones.”

Getting the early lead in the final was key for Johnson and Lependorf. “Winning the tiebreak really helped; any time you can put a set in your pocket it gives you a little more confidence for what comes next,” said Hibbert. “There was good tennis being played, they really communicated well.”

In Hibbert’s view, Lependorf and Johnson are a good match in terms of their respective tennis backgrounds.

“Bella comes in with a strong game as well; she has played more singles so it is getting her comfortable with the net and the doubles game strategy,” said Hibbert.

“Jordan has played a lot of doubles. It is nice watching them click. For a new pairing to come together like this and win the county tournament is fantastic for them.”

At third singles, junior Nicole Samios overcame an early deficit to post a straight set win over Jackie Drozd of Hun in the third place match.

“Nicole was down 1-4 in the first set and coach [Christian] Herzog and I were talking to her at different times and said you are never out of this,” recalled Hibbert, whose second doubles team of junior Sora Sato and senior Adriana Todorov placed fourth in their flight.

“It is just a couple of little things; you have been really close. You have just got to believe, stay tough, and fight for every point and don’t give it up. It was really nice for Nicole to fight for that third place point.”

With PHS getting seeded third in the upcoming state Group 4 Central Jersey sectional, Hibbert believes that the fighting hard at the MCT will help her team in that tourney.

“Playing good teams is always helpful to give you a test of what it is to come with states,” said Hibbert.

“We still have half of our season left. It was a good showing and overall we just want to keep playing as well as we can and winning as much as we can and we will see what happens.”

For Lependorf, the county tournament experience was a good prep for her states debut.

“I think this really raised my confidence. Being able to beat all of these good players makes me feel really good going into states,” said Lependorf.

Johnson is primed to end her PHS career on a high note. “We were able to play some really good players here,” said Johnson. “The last match was amazing; those players were great. That really prepared us so we can see what everyone is like.”