caption: TOP SEED: Princeton Day School tennis star Samantha Lieb prepares to serve the ball in action last fall on her way to winning the first singles title in the Mercer County Tournament. Sophomore Lieb will again be at the top of the lineup this fall as PDS looks to improve on the 11-4 record it posted in 2007. In early season action, the Panthers host Hill on September 10 before playing at George School on September 12 and at Hillsborough on September 15 and then hosting Pennington on September 16.

After Undergoing Youth Movement Last Fall, Battle-Tested PDS Girls’ Soccer Aiming High

Bill Alden

With five of seven players returning from a squad that went 11-4 last fall, Princeton Day School girls’ tennis head coach Patty Headley knows that she will have a solid team in 2008.

But Headley isn’t ready to anoint her team as a surefire championship favorite. “I hope we can keep improving but you don’t know about the other teams and players,” said Headley, whose team hosts Hill on September 10 before playing at George School on September 12 and at Hillsborough on September 15 and then hosting Pennington on September 16.

“Sometimes they are loaded with ranked players and other years, they aren’t. We are back in Prep B and I think we should do very well in that and the Mercer County Tournament. (MCT)”

PDS figures to do very well at first singles with the return of sophomore standout, Samantha Lieb.

“Sammy is a tremendous player, she assimilated into the PDS sports society very smoothly last year,” said Headley of Lieb, who won the MCT title at first singles last fall as PDS finished fourth in the team standings.

“She is a very graceful person who helps everyone feel good about themselves. She is an elite player. She was so good last year, it is hard to say where she has improved. She is an excellent player who works very hard at her tennis.”

The Panthers have a hard worker at second singles in junior Lauren Constantini.

“Lauren has a wonderful mental toughness, she never gives up a point,” said Headley.

“I have seen improvement in her serve and in her consistency. Her footwork is also better; she seems to be quicker to the ball.”

Freshman Lauren Keim should prove to be a quick study at third singles for PDS.

“Lauren has a very good all-around game,” said Headley, noting that Keim won two U-14 tournaments in August.

“She is very consistent and very fast. She is mentally tough; she doesn’t get rattled. She has impeccable sportsmanship. She never shrugs her shoulders; she is like a pro out there.”

The PDS first doubles team of senior Elena Bowen and sophomore Samantha Schaeffer should be head and shoulders above most of their foes this fall.

“They work very well together,” asserted Headley. “They have perfected the Australian doubles style where the net player kneels on the ‘T’ in the middle of the court and is ready to poach in either direction. They pulled it out. It is very disconcerting to opponents.”

At second doubles, the combination of senior Brittany Christian and sophomore Ariel Multak figure to cause problems for the Panthers’ opponents.

“They are both very tall and very aggressive at the net,” said Headley. “They both have very good first serves; they are all about power.”

With its deep lineup, PDS has the potential to make a powerful statement this fall.

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