FRESH APPROACH: Princeton Day School girls’ tennis player Prisha Tiwari smacks a forehand in a match this fall. Last week, freshman Tiwari advanced to the third singles final at the Prep B state tournament, helping the Panthers take second in the team standings behind champion Montclair Kimberley Academy. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

With powerhouse Montclair Kimberley Academy returning to the Prep B state girls’ tennis tournament this fall after not competing in the event last year, the Princeton Day School squad faced a challenge as it went after the title.

While MKA, ranked third in the state by NJ.com, advanced to final in all five flights of the competition, PDS was not far behind as made four finals.

Unable to overcome the Cougars’ advantage, the Panthers did produce a major highlight as the second doubles pair of Kavita Amin and Zarna Kalra won their flight. MKA totaled 14 points to win the team title with PDS amassing 10 to take second in the competition which wrapped up last Wednesday at Wardlaw-Hartridge.

“The last time MKA was in the tournament, they swept it, we didn’t have any championships,” said Panther head coach Michael Augsberger. “Last year we got a couple but MKA took the tournament off. This year, to be able to get one from them, that is a big sign of progress for our girls.”

The pair of Amin and Kalra came up big in their second doubles final, rallying to top MKA’s Lauren Chung and Ellen Nowak 3-6, 7-5, (10-6).

“Kavita has really improved a lot and it says a lot about Zarna as a freshman,” said Augsberger. “They make a great team and we would like to be able to keep them together next year at first doubles. In the final, Kavita really showed her volleying prowess and incredible footwork. We saw the point the year, I think, both sides agreed to it. It was the middle of the tiebreak, it was back and forth with Kavita and their net player with incredibly short twitch volleys back and forth. This went on for like 30 strokes — it was an incredible point. We managed to get that one.”

Showing great promise, freshman Prisha Tiwari advanced to the Prep B final at third singles.

“To be finalist as a freshman year, we are really looking forward to her upside,” said Augsberger of Tiwari who fell in straight sets to MKA’s Katie Chung in the final. “She takes it so seriously and she loves it so much and it means so much to her. She clearly wants to be a college player, and she is focusing on it.”

Senior Kristina Wang made the final at second singles to end her last postseason for the Panthers on a high note.

“Kristina did a great job against the Gill player in the semifinal — her backhand was on fire and that continued through the week,” said Augsberger of Wang, who also lost in straight sets in the final. “She ended up playing MKA’s No. 3 (Amara Bhatia) who was playing at No. 2 in the final. Kristina was matching her pace, but the pace just did not bother her at all. I saw a couple of points where Kristina hit that signature backhand and her opponent would just flick it back sharp angle cross court. It was like, ‘what do you do with that?’ She came over and she wasn’t in down spirits. We talked about it and we said, ‘You are playing well, there is nothing you can do differently.’ She is top class.”

At first doubles, seniors Ashlyn Du and Hannah Park also produced a memorable run as they played their way to the final before falling to the MKA pair of Hannah Lewis and Ellie LoPiccolo.

“They beat Rutgers Prep in the semis, another repeat of what happened in the state (team) tournament,” said Augsberger. “They had the confidence to do it because they had done it before — this time they were about to iron out some of the issues we had the first time. Against MKA, one of the players was more the baseline player and the taller of the two was just incredible with her volleys. Anything to her forehand side she would put it away. We tried to lob a little more in the second set to change up the look, it worked a little bit better. We were trying to give them a scare and get a third set tiebreak.”

Last Thursday, PDS ended the season last by falling 4-1 to Princeton High to finish with a 14-5 record in dual match play. Wang provided a highlight in the match, prevailing at second singles to get the lone win for the Panthers and end her career on a high note.

“There is a number of situations in conference —
if you take three teams,
each of the teams has beaten the other,” said Augsberger, reflecting on the program’s first season in the Colonial Valley Conference. “We beat Robbinsville and Robbinsville beat Princeton and then Princeton beat us. It really depends on what happens on the day, Princeton played better.”

Saying goodbye to his trio of seniors — Wang, Du, and Park — is going to be tough for Augsberger.

“We are going to miss them,” said Augsberger. “I have been able to grow up with them as a coach. I have seen them grow up.”

Looking ahead, Augsberger believes his group of returners can grow into something special.

“It is positive for the future for Prisha to show the kind of competitive drive that she had this year,” said Augsberger. “The upside is incredible, her potential is great. To be able to have Arya [Kalra] next year is great, after the leap she made this year from doubles into first singles. That is really difficult to do, she is going to be able to improve a lot. The second doubles championship is clearly the highlight of the season. We are happy with the way Kavita’s footwork has come along. Her dedication and the positive outlook she has about things as well as her volleys. Zarna is a freshman, coming in first day of tryouts, we knew she was going to be a starter. To have three more years being able to improve from where she is at now, that is really promising.”