SECOND ACT: Princeton High girls’ tennis player Bella Lependorf hits a backhand in action last week at the Mercer County Tournament. Sophomore Lependorf took first at second singles to help PHS win the team title at the competition. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Bella Lependorf knows what it’s like to win a title for the Princeton High girls’ tennis team at the Mercer County Tournament.

As a freshman last fall, she teamed with Jordan Johnson to take the first doubles crown at the MCT.

Having moved up to the second singles spot this year for PHS, Lependorf didn’t see herself repeating as a county champion at the competition held last week at the Mercer County Park tennis complex.

“When I first started this tournament, I didn’t think I would win,” said Lependorf. “My season started off a little rough; I had some tough matches.”

Displaying her toughness, third-seeded Lependorf came through last Wednesday in the final day of action at the county tourney.

In the morning, Lependorf defeated top-seeded Courtney Copeland of Lawrence High 3-6-7-5, 6-4 in the semis. Building on that performance, Lependorf cruised to a 6-0, 6-3 victory over fourth-seeded Melissa Liu of WW/P-South in the championship match.

“It was mostly mental, I knew I could do it physically,” said Lependorf, reflecting on her title run.

“In the beginning of the season I wasn’t very strong mentally. I was nervous. I handled my nerves well here. I am really excited, I am happy that I pulled it off.”

Pulling off the victory at second singles helped PHS edge three-time defending champion Hightstown to win the team title as the Tigers ended with 25 points and the Rams came in at 23.

Lependorf  pointed to a 3-2 win over Hightstown on September 17 as giving PHS a major boost heading into the MCT.

“That was huge because I don’t think we had beaten them in a long time,” said Lependorf, who pulled out a three-set win in that match. “We were all really excited after that and it made us a lot more confident.”

PHS head coach Sarah Hibbert is excited by the progress Lependorf has made this fall.

“Bella started her season with Courtney [Copeland] and Nikita [Tripurana of WW/P-North], two of the top seeds here, and opened by going 0-2 and felt really nervous,” said Hibbert.

“But then in Hightstown, she came on and finished that match for us in the third set. She is coming into her own as a singles player.”

Lependorf, for her part, is looking to finish the campaign on a high note with the state tournament on the horizon.

“My serves have gotten a lot better; they are pretty consistent,” said Lependorf.

“My ball placement has gotten a lot better. I am looking forward to the rest of the season.”