DOUBLE TAKE: Princeton High girls’ tennis first doubles player Maya-Alexandra Todorov, left, hits a backhand in action last fall as partner Ashna Bushan covers the net. Last Monday, the pair of Todorov and Bushan posted a 6-0, 6-1 win to help fourth-seeded PHS defeat 13th-seeded Middletown North 5-0 in the first round of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) North 2 Group 3 state team sectional. The Tigers, who improved to 5-1, will play at Lawrence High on October 7 in a regular season match before hosting fifth-seeded Summit in the sectional quarterfinals on October 8. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Boasting a battle-tested core of veteran performers, the Princeton High girls’ tennis team has picked up where it left off last year.

After winning eight of its last nine matches in 2023, advancing the Central Jersey Group 3 final in the process, the Tigers have started 5-1 this fall with their latest victory coming last Monday when the fourth-seeded Tigers defeated 13th-seeded Middletown North 5-0 in the first round of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) North 2 Group 3 state team sectional on October 8.

“We have had a nice start to the season,” said Hibbert, whose team moved to 5-1 with the win over Middletown North and will play at Lawrence High on October 7 in a regular season match before hosting fifth-seeded Summit in the sectional quarterfinals on October 8. “With six returners and a freshman at the top of the lineup we hope for good things.

That freshman, Kathleen Xu, has already emerged as a star at first singles.

“Kathleen is a tournament player, she trains a lot, she works very hard,” said Hibbert. “She started off the season really well. She has a good all-around game. She does stay at the baseline a lot but she has a good serve and is willing to move the ball around, move forward, and volley.”

At second singles, sophomore Phoebe Decker is giving PHS some outstanding work.

“Phoebe has good power in her game and can move the ball around well,” said Hibbert. “She has variety with her shots as well. We will look forward to seeing where she can go this year.”

Junior Katie Qin has established herself as a fixture at third singles.

“Katie has been there for a while for us, she is very steady,” said Hibbert. “She really does work hard and tries to battle everyone. Third singles are often a lot of long rallies, you often have to be a lot more patient. Katie has really picked up a good balance of patience and aggressiveness of when she should attack and when she needs to just stay in the point. She has been a steady position for us.”

Another steady position for PHS is first doubles where senior Maya-Alexandra Todorov and junior Ashna Bushan are back in that spot after a terrific 2023 campaign that saw them win their flight at the Mercer County Tournament.

“They had a great season, they only had one loss last year,” said Hibbert. “They were a strong pairing, they have a year of experience together. With doubles pairings, a lot of it is the on-court stuff, knowing who is going to go where, working through that. It takes a little while to get that down and if you already have it, it makes sense to stick with it.”

At second doubles, senior Lada Labas and sophomore Sophia Bruhn have been paired together and have quickly gotten in synch.

“I have been very pleased with the way they have opened the season,” said Hibbert. “Their consistency and chemistry has really clicked since the season started. Sophia has a year of doubles experience Lada has three years of varsity experience. So far, they have made a really solid team.”

While Hibbert is happy with how the Tigers have started, she knows that they face plenty of challenges going forward.

“There are at least six or seven schools that could win the thing,” said Hibbert, referring to the state team tourney. “It is a tough section. We do the best we can every match and see what happens.”