Amanda Phillips reaches for a shot during a match against Nottingham on Oct. 15, 2013. Phillips and her doubles partner Michelle Petrilla won their match 6-0, 6-1, helping the Spartans to a 5-0 victory. (Photo by Suzette J. Lucas.)
The way Bob Howland looks at it, the success of his Steinert High tennis team this fall was not only good for the Spartans, but may be good for the rest of Hamilton Township tennis, as well.
“I think so, I think it is an inspiration,” the veteran coach said after his team defeated Hopewell Valley in the NJSIAA Group III quarterfinals Oct. 6. “This team can be an inspiration to the other public schools, that it isn’t always about West Windsor North and West Windsor South and Princeton and Hopewell, and that we can break through. I think this (win over Hopewell) was a break-through match for all the schools in Hamilton Township.”
Indeed, Steinert made it to rarified air by reaching the CJ III finals before falling to powerful Princeton on Oct. 14. At the time of the loss, the Spartans had an 11-3 record with several matches still to be played.
No Spartan girls’ tennis team had ever made a sectional final before, but at least one player on this year’s squad had a pretty good feeling about things.
“I think we could sense it,” senior third singles Kristen Malpas said. “I knew after tryouts we had a really strong lineup. I think going into the season we had a really good shot to do well.”
The other two singles players, junior Gabi Bennett at first and senior Rachael Peters at second, were optimistic, but never dared to dream of what actually occurred.
“I think I knew we were going to have a good year,” Bennett said. “I just didn’t think we would have as good as year as we are having.”
Peters echoed those thoughts, saying “We knew we were gonna be good but I don’t think we knew we were gonna be this good.
“I feel like we’re closer as a team this year,” she added. “Everyone’s worked so hard in the off-season and that’s made such a difference.”
Howland felt that the biggest difference is the emergence of the doubles teams, including juniors Michelle Petrilla and Amanda Phillips at first doubles, and junior Paige Conti and sophomore Danielle Swierczyna at second.
The doubles teams had a combined 17-9 record after the Princeton match.
“They’ve definitely made a difference,” Malpas said. “They get along well. They play well together, they communicate together and that’s definitely key for a doubles team.”
“Doubles was our biggest question mark,” Howland said. “We weren’t sure how they would do, but by them winning this year, it’s made a big difference. Matches we were losing 3-2 last year, we’re winning 3-2 and 4-1 this year.
“It is a perfect storm this year, but it’s also a credit to these girls who have really worked hard and come together. It seems all the pieces are in the right places and they’re just playing as a team. When we’re winning matches it’s not coming from the same spots, it’s each position contributing at different times to let us win matches. “
It’s the first year both doubles teams have played together, although Phillips and Petrilla have been friends for years.
“She’s really good at volleying at the net,” Phillips said. “And I guess I’m good at the serving and the baseline shots.”
Swierczyna wasn’t even on the team last year, as she came over from soccer and teamed up nicely with Conti.
“I’d been playing both sports for a while but soccer wasn’t the same at school,” Swierczyna said. “Since I knew more tennis people I thought it would be fun to play. I’m good at both so I can juggle both (varsity tennis and travel soccer). It’s a lot of fun and everyone is really nice. It’s a good team.”
Like all good doubles teams, the duo complements each other well.
“We have our own strengths and weaknesses so we’re compatible,” Swierczyna said. “If somebody passes her I know already, she doesn’t even have to say switch. We’re good with that and she’ll know I’ll sprint to the back and cover to her.”
“We were just hoping to play the best we can, and work together,” Conti said. “My strength is my serve and backhand. I’m good at the net, but she’s real good at covering the back.”
Aside from its state success this year, Steinert also finished seventh in the Mercer County Tournament, which was their highest finish in the 10 years Howland has been coach. It helped fuel the Spartans confidence.
“We all believe in ourselves when we are out there,” said Bennett, who is also a starter for the Spartans basketball and softball teams. “We believe we can win, and if we play a good opponent we’ll try our best no matter what. And the more wins we got, the more confidence we got.”
Bennett played in her second straight sectional final, as she was a member of the CJ Group IV softball finalists last season.
“This is a little different,” Bennett said. “I know this isn’t my number one sport, but since I’m going this far it just helps me build confidence in knowing I can play this sport, too.”
Malpas and Peters, on the other hand, are all tennis. Malpas said she spent all summer practicing and getting ready for this season.
“Triple sessions some days,” she said, adding with a smile. “but not every day.”
Like their coach, the players also hope this year’s success could get girls at other township schools interested.
“It could happen,” Malpas said. “You don’t know, we’ll have to see what the future brings. I think kids could get interested. “
Whether it does remains to be seen, but Malpas is certain of one thing – this year was surely a pleasant surprise.
“This is exciting,” she said. “It’s just…crazy.”
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