IN FORM: Princeton High girls’ tennis player Lada Labas works on her strokes before a match last year. Junior Labas has excelled at second singles this fall, helping second-seeded PHS enjoy another big run in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Central Jersey Group 3 sectional. The Tigers were slated to play at top-seeded WW/P-North in the sectional final on October 17 with the winner advancing to the Group 3 state semis on October 19 at the Mercer County Park tennis facility. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

As the most battle-tested singles player for the Princeton High girls’ tennis team, Lada Labas has seen her game mature.

“I feel like my consistency has gotten a lot better along with  my placement of shots,” said junior Labas. “That is what I use to my advantage, I try to move the girl around.”

Last week as PHS started play in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Central Jersey Group 3 sectional, Labas displayed that consistency as she rolled to a 6-0, 6-2 win at second singles as the second-seeded Tigers topped seventh-seeded Jackson Memorial 5-0 in a quarterfinal contest on October 9.

“The girl I played, she was very nice,” said Labas. “It was a good match. We had good rallies so it was a good way to open up states.”

On Thursday, PHS topped third-seeded Colts Neck 4-1 in the sectional semis to setting up a rematch with top-seeded WW/P-North in the sectional final which was slated for October 17. With PHS having lost 3-2 to North in a regular season meeting on September 15, Labas and her teammates are excited for a second chance at the Northern Knights as the rivals battle for a spot in the Group 3 state semis on October 19 at the Mercer County Park tennis facility.

“The girl I played, I knew her since we were kids,” said Labas, who fell 7-5, 6-1 to Megan Chung in that match. “We just play together — it was close so we will get another try.”

With the Tigers having won five straight matches to improve to 10-3 since falling 3.5-1.5 to WW/P-South on October 3, Labas believes that PHS is playing its best tennis down the stretch.

“We have had some losses recently but I feel like the team has come together,” said Labas.“We are doing better, we are doing well in states.”

With freshman Phoebe Decker playing at first singles and sophomore Katie Qin back at third singles, Labas has tried to help the younger players hold things together.

“They are on the underclassman side so they get nervous before matches so I try to calm them down and give them advice,” said Labas. “I feel like I definitely have as an upperclassman, taking the role and leading some of the warmups.”

PHS head coach Sarah Hibbert liked the way her players dealt with their nerves in the win over Jackson Memorial.

“Any time you start states, you always want to start off in a strong fashion to set the tone for the rest of your run,” said Hibbert. “We didn’t know anything about them — the only comparison we had was they have played Hightstown. We knew what we had done with Hightstown, we used that as a bit of a litmus test.”

While PHS has experienced some ups and downs this fall, going 2-3 in a five-match span in the middle of the season, Hibbert believes those defeats have steeled her players for a big postseason run.

“We have lost three really close matches, either 3-2 or 3.5-1.5,” said Hibbert, noting that the Tigers lost to WW/P-North in a regular season meeting last year before topping the Northern Knights in the sectional semifinal on the way to the Group 3 state championship match. “We have been right there with all of them — one little thing going differently could have made a big difference. Hopefully we will be able to use those experiences to benefit us going forward. Last year we lost to North and then we turned it around in states. We were a bit more seasoned, a bit more experienced, and I am hoping that we can do that again.”

More seasoning has helped Labas develop her game. “The biggest thing is able to make adjustments; she hits the ball very hard and when it goes in, she is fantastic,” said Hibbert. “When she is a little bit off, often in the past, the unforced errors would build up. She has been better this year about being able to change her style and adjust during the match when needed.”

At first singles, Decker has benefited from the encouragement of her teammates as she has battled some top-flight foes.

“If a team has one good player, Phoebe gets her,” said Hibbert. “As a freshman, that can be a little bit difficult some times. But the difference between individual tournaments and the team is that you do have people out here supporting you. I think she has enjoyed being in the team environment and being a part of the team with people there to support her. She has played some really good matches for us.”

Qin has given the Tigers plenty of good work at third singles. “Katie is very consistent, she does work really hard,” said Hibbert. “That first set with Anna [Zhao] from WW/P-South was a tiebreak; it took two hours to play that one set and that is why they didn’t finish the match. It was 5:55 when they finished their first set.”

The first doubles team of junior Maya-Alexandra Todorov and sophomore Ashna Bushan and the second doubles pair of senior Scarlett Cai and freshman Sophia Bruhn have given the PHS lineup consistent play.

“First doubles has been a steady position for us, they have been solid,” said Hibbert of the pair who won their flight at the Mercer County Tournament in September.

“Second doubles has progressed well together. They have settled in their roles together. It is a senior/freshman pairing; they have started to click and have been doing well for us.”

Heading into the rematch with North, Hibbert was cautiously optimistic that her squad could turn the tables on the Northern Knights and get back to the Group 3 final four.

“The chance is always there but obviously they are a very strong team,” said Hibbert. “We are very similar, all five positions could go either way. This is one that is going to come down to whoever is playing best that day.”

Labas is confident the Tigers will bring their best as they look to stay alive in the states.

“We are pretty confident with our team so I think we are in a good state,” said Labas. “I feel like if we believe in ourselves and not put ourselves down and we are all together as a team, we will do well.”