Tennis: Pingry, Ridge and New Providence win Group titles

WEST WINDSOR—Naturally, the three area tennis teams that won state group titles Thursday happily posed for pictures afterward. New Providence High School and Pingry each gutted out 3-2 victories to respectively capture NJSIAA Group I and the Non-Public A crowns.

For Ridge, though, there might have been some extra giggle in their smiles. The Red Devils had lost in the Group IV final the previous two seasons before finally snagging the trophy with a 4-1 win over Bergen Tech. Ridge last won a Group II championship in 1984.

So the pictures and selfies continued on at Mercer County Park well after the trophy presentation.

“We’ve been waiting a long time,” senior captain Amanda Vinges said. “We were ready for it.”

All three advance to the Tournament of Champions beginning Sunday at the indoor Garden State Tennis Center in Edison. In an all-Skyland Conference quarterfinal, fourth-seeded Ridge will play No. 5 Pingry at 3 p.m. The winner advances Tuesday against top-seeded Millburn. Sixth-seeded New Providence plays No. 3 Newark Academy at 5 p.m. in Sunday’s other quarterfinal. The winner plays second-seeded Holmdel on Tuesday.

First, the trio needed to advance on Thursday. Ridge had a relatively drama-free day with all of its wins in two sets. The Red Devils got victories from No. 2 singles player Chrissie Giberna (6-0, 5-2 as Casey Chiang retired at the end), No. 3 singles Navya Yemula (6-1, 6-4), No. 1 doubles Annie Giberna and Vinges (6-1, 6-4) and No. 2 doubles Dilara Shahani and Camille Shen (6-0, 6-0).

“This was just gravy with icing on the cake,” Ridge coach Chad Griffiths said. “To raise a banner in the main gym with 2016, you could never take that away. It’s going to be hanging for the rest of their lives.”

Ridge lost to West Windsor-Plainsboro South in 2014 and to Montgomery in 2015. This season, VInges said it’s a relief to win it.

“We worked really hard to get here,” Vinges said. “Every single player on this team deserved it and they all gave it their all. And I guess third time is the charm.”

In the morning semifinal, Ridge beat Princeton 4-1 with two-set wins from Kruti Navin at first singles, Yemula at third singles and from both doubles.

In the Group I tournament, New Providence beat Kinnelon 3-2 in the final, and edged Shore 3-2 in the semifinal. In both matches, the Pioneers got wins from No. 3 singles player Stephanie Maluso, No. 1 doubles Caroline Maglaras/Mary Riccio and No. 2 doubles Ashima Agarwal/Lauren Kang.

Afterward, a teammate gave Maluso the team trophy and said she was “the MVP of the day.” In the semifinal, Maluso pulled out a 6-4, 5-7, 10-7 win over Annie Ruoff. The junior trailed 4-0 in the first set, and in the third-set tiebreaker was down 3-0 and 6-3 before pulling it out. It was the first time she was the last match on the court with everyone watching.

“It was very tense,” Maluso said. “My dad’s here, so I just kept looking for him. Seeing him, I knew what he would be saying to me, ‘Just play smart and keep the ball in.’ So that really helped. … I really like when my teammates cheer for me. It really boosts up my spirit and helps a lot.”

Maluso said her top spin from her forehand was working, and she made sure to hit consistent shots to her opponent’s backhand side.

First-year head coach Marc Willemsen said he wanted his team to take in the atmosphere of being in the tournament, and to take time to notice little things like the color of the leaves.

“What I like about this team is that they don’t take it for granted,” Willemsen said. “I think they really savior the moment and they realize how special it is. … It takes a very special group and this is a very special group of girls. They’re very strong. They help each other out. They have incredible sportsmanship. ... I really think it came down to their poise and resiliency because we’ve been down a lot.“

In the Public A final—there were no semifinals—Pingry defeated Kent Place 3-2. The Big Blue got wins from both doubles and third singles. At No. 1 doubles, Brooke Murphy and Wesley Streicher won 6-0, 6-4, and No. 2 Lindsey Yu and Jessica Li took a 6-2, 6-2 decision. With the match tied 2-2, No. 3 singles Mariam Trichas defeated Ellie Falivene 6-4, 3-6, 6-1. With everyone watching, the junior played her best.

“I think the pressure just kind of made me focus a little bit more,” Trichas said. “Because I was just trying to do it for the team and close it out.”

Pingry, which won group titles in 2012 and 2013, bowed out in the sectional tournament last season. Now, they have their sixth group championship in school history.

“This has been a real phenomenal team effort from our school to get to this place,” Pingry coach Marion Weber said. “And these girls have worked together so well. … We thought it would be a really hard fought match. My girls came out focused today. We’ve been working hard all season. A great effort on all the courts today.”