Friday, August 29, 2008

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

Seniors Danielle Weiner (left) and Erin Nerlino are battling it out for the second and third singles slot in Ramapo's stacked lineup.

FRANKLIN LAKES – Last year was a banner one on the court for the Ramapo girls tennis team. It defended its league championship in Division 1 of the NBIL, and repeated as the Bergen County Groups 3-4, and North 1 Group 3 champion. But with a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to Moorestown, then the state’s No. 2 ranked team at the time, in the Group 3 state semifinals, the Green Raiders felt that they ended a great campaign on a sour note.

Despite the loss of Kayla Arno and Briana Hartgers, an all-county first doubles tandem, the Green Raiders feel that they can match and possibly exceed last year’s accomplishments.

“We know that we are a contender in both the county and the states and we’ll build on that,” said Erin Nerlino. “We have all good singles players and we’ll be strong at doubles too. As long as we stay confident, we should have a good season.”

One of Ramapo’s consistent strengths is its depth. Currently there are as many as eight players fighting it out for the four starting doubles slots.

“We are confident with our mixture of talent and depth,” said Ramapo head coach Kim Marchese. “We feel the bottom of our lineup can be as strong at the top of our lineup.

Freshman Amanda Muliwan has yet to complet a single day of high school, but she is already making a mark on the court.

The singles lineup could have taken a hit when last year’s first singles player, Michelle Pratt, decided to focus her senior year on her studies. Instead, regionally ranked freshman Amanda Muliawan ensures that they will not miss a beat.

“We had a strong singles trio last year and we feel we’ll be even stronger this year,” added Marchese. “I think we came as close as could to beating Moorestown, which was one of the state’s best teams. This is a senior-laden team that is hungry to take it a step further.”

Throw in that the team’s senior co-captains, second team all-stater Danielle Weiner and Nerlino, one of Bergen County’s most steady players, are battling it out for second and third singles, and the Green Raiders are primed for another big season.

However, earning another county and section title will not come easy. Tenafly moves up from Group 2 to Group 3 this year. The Tigers return four players from last year’s Tournament of Champions finalist squad that went 24-1 and finished the season as the state’s No. 2 ranked team.

“We have had pressure over the past three years and we like the challenge of playing against the best teams,” said Weiner. “This team has a lot of seniors and we want to end on a good note. The counties and states will be tough, but we know we’re capable of doing what we did last year and going even further.”

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