Ella Saxton won at first singles for Ramapo, which won its first state sectional title since 2017 with a 5-0 win over Tenafly in the North 1, Group 3 final on Tuesday.
FRANKLIN LAKES – Watching another team celebrate on your home court in a section final is a frustrating feeling. That is what Ramapo felt in 2021 in falling, 3-2, to Tenafly in a five-hour marathon. Then when it happened again last fall to the same team by the same exact score it was heartbreaking for the Green Raiders. However, it was those experiences that have shaped what this year’s Ramapo team has become: A juggernaut that refused to let any team stand in its way.
Once again hosting Tenafly in a section final in what was the last home match in the 40-plus year career of head coach Kim Marchese, the senior-laden squad finally had their time to shine as champions.
All three singles flights and second doubles were straight-set sweeps with the capper being a win at first doubles by Caroline Baker and Elizabeth Ring over one of the top two doubles teams in New Jersey to polish off top-seeded Ramapo’s first section title since 2017 with a 5-0 triumph over second-seeded Tenafly on Tuesday afternoon in Franklin Lakes.
“We were all ready for this match, we’ve been preparing for it all season,” said Ramapo second singles player Catie Sauter. “After the past two years falling short here, it definitely motivated us heading into this season. Seeing another team celebrate at your expense isn’t nice to see and we worked hard to do something about it to make sure it didn’t happen again.”
Ramapo got a point on the scoreboard quickly with a dominant performance from Olivia Ring and Arielle Gomberg, who dropped only one game at second doubles. The Green Raiders did face some sticky situations on their serve in the first set at second and third singles.
Catie Sauter .won in straight sets at second singles for Ramapo.
Sauter faced break point in the first game of her match at second singles before winning the game and hitting her stride with heavy groundstrokes en route to a 6-2, 6-2 win. Chloe Heller was in an even tighter spot having dropped the first game was 0-40 on her serve in the second game. In total, she fought off six break points to eventually hold serve. She would only drop one game the rest of the way for a 6-2, 6-0 win that clinched the first section crown in six years for Ramapo.
“My focus was on staying calm and not making any unforced errors,” added Sauter. “Sometimes I’m almost too aggressive so I wanted to hold that back a little bit. I wanted to be more consistent today, then when I had the chance to be aggressive, I’d take that chance and go for my shots.”
Ella Saxton has been a steady player and the consummate leader for Ramapo throughout her scholastic career. The unflappable senior was sternly tested in the second set by Tenafly’s Sophia Lee in a match that started in a cloudy haze and finished under the lights. With Saxton holding match point at 5-4 in the second set, the two embarked on the longest point of any of the matches. In a 40-plus shot rally, Saxton outlasted Lee to close out a 6-1, 6-4 victory.
“Tenafly is such a great team, we knew all season that this was going to be ‘the match’,” said Saxton, a three-sport athlete (basketball, softball). “Whether it’s a practice or a match, we have the mentality that every day is an important one and a chance for us to get better. I knew after my first set that my match was far from over. (Lee) is a great player and we played some very long points during the second set. I had to fight for every point.”
Ramapo's Caroline Baker (pictured) and Olivia Ring pulled an upset at first doubles.
The marquee match was at first doubles between Baker and Ring battling Tenafly’s undefeated duo of Kay Considine and Zoe Han. Both pairs have been playing together for two years and have had plenty of success. The Tigers’ duo did not drop a set all season coming into the match and will play today in the NJSIAA state doubles tournament final. Baker and Ring were determined to show that they are one of the top doubles teams in the state.
With Ramapo leading 5-3 in the first set, the teams showed just how close they are in the ninth game of the first set. The game went to a whopping 14 deuces before Considine’s volley at the net got the break of serve. Although they had lost momentum, Baker and Ring never blinked. They won eight of the next ten points to take the first set.
Considine and Han found their groove midway through the second set to force a third-set super tiebreak and take a 3-1 lead in the tiebreak. Once again, Baker and Ring stuck to the gameplan and battled through adversity. They got their first serves in and kept the ball deep consistently throughout the match and especially in the tiebreaker. After falling behind, they won seven of the next eight points on their way to their biggest win of their careers, 7-5, 2-6, (10-6) to cap a night that had been three years in the making for this tight-knit group.
Ramapo (14-1) advances to the Group 3 state semifinals on Thursday at Mercer County Park in West Windsor. While their opponent is still yet to be determined, they know they will be facing one of the state’s best teams, as all the No. 1 seeds in Group 3 (Millburn, West Windsor-Plainsboro North, and Moorestown) all won section titles. With this being the last go-round for Marchese at the helm, the Green Raiders would love to send him out with Group 3 state title to close out his coaching career with a storybook ending.
“It’s really exciting and it’s been our goal to get this far,” said Saxton. “Coach Marchese has been amazing. He’s so detailed in helping us turn a weakness in our game into a strength and he’s great at giving us advice during our matches. Coach drives us to be the best we can be, and we want to end this run on a high note for him.”
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