Dave Burchell wishes all his years of coaching could be like this one. A veteran of 43 seasons, Burchell’s has seen Hopewell Valley Central High School girls’ tennis team set a school record for wins this year, while sophomore Ana Herning established the new school mark for singles victories.
But that’s only part of the equation.
“The nice thing to see about these kids is that they don’t quit,” Burchell said. “A lot of kids, you play somebody, you lose the match and you roll over. These kids have a lot of courage and fight back.”
Wait, there’s more.
“The best part is these are great kids,” Burchell continued. “These kids are as great a competitors and all-around nice kids as I’ve ever coached. It’s really fun for me, when you’ve seen as much tennis as I’ve seen. I know they’re going to go on to be successful no matter what they do, if they keep that frame of mind.”
The team had 19 wins after a 5-0 win over Stuart Country Day School on Oct. 24. Leading the way is Herning, a 10th-grade first singles player who seems well beyond her years. She reached the Mercer County Tournament finals and had a school-record 25 wins entering a match with Moorestown on Oct. 25, which she feels she should share with her teammates.
“I’m really grateful to have a team that supports me all the time because they’re there and they definitely helped me get there,” Herning said. “It’s been a really amazing year. We’re having a blast, we’re really enjoying playing and being friends with each other. Getting the school record for wins validates all of our hard work for sure. Everyone has worked really hard on and off-season, so it’s really rewarding.”
HoVal lost to Moorestown 4-1 on Oct. 25, but at 19-5 the team has already broken the former HVCHS season mark of 18 wins. The Bulldogs’ losses were to sectional champions Hightstown and Princeton, 11-time state champion Millburn in the North Jersey 2, Group III sectional tournament, perennial CVC power West Windsor-Plainsboro South, and Moorestown, which has won 27 consecutive sectional titles.
“We’re right on the edge,” Burchell said. “We’re not the best team in the state but we try to play against the best. My kids walk off with their heads up high no matter what. They’ll shake your hand, look you in the eye and go on to the next match.”
Marissa Liu and Lucy Tian are in their second years as starters at second and third singles, while Sarah Bunsa-Haley Schoenberger and Paige Baxter-Helen Sun play first and second doubles, respectively. With Liu out recently, Tian has moved up and Courtney Greener has played third singles.
“I think we always had the potential,” Herning said. “We always thought we could do really good things, sometimes it just takes time and this year was our year for sure.”
It was especially Herning’s year after she had a solid freshman campaign. Of her three losses this season, two were to Millburn’s Stephanie Scharge and Paramus Catholic’s Andrea Cerdan, who were seeded first and third in the NJSIAA state singles tournament. She lost to Scharge in HoVal’s state loss to Millburn and fell to Cerdan in the second round of individual states.
Her third loss was to Hightstown freshman Avnika Naraparaju in the Mercer County Tournament finals.
“Even though I didn’t win the county title, I understood I was able to play with some of the best players and I was still very proud of how I did,” Herning said. “No matter what, I played my best and I gave it my all.”
She also got a measure of revenge by defeating Naraparaju, 6-3, 6-3, in a regular-season match on Oct. 19.
“It was nice to come back and do that,” Herning said. “I didn’t have any expectations. I was going to play, and play hard. I went out with my game and I followed through. I was a little more relaxed, so I think I had a really good day and it was a good feeling to win.”
Asking Herning to define her game is a little tricky. Burchell noted that she has a big top spin, she keeps balls moving from corner to corner, “and she works hard at it.”
But she cannot be defined as a baseline player or an aggressive net player.
“Every match I need to be able to identify; look at my opponent, and how they’re playing,” she explained. “I think I’m able to adjust my game pretty well. Even during the match if I’m down, I’m able to make changes. I think I’m flexible, which helps me. I’m not just stuck in one game plan or one strategy.”
Herning’s tennis IQ comes from years on the court. She started at 6 and, unlike some players who start at that age, the sport remains fresh for her. Herning credits that to focusing on her schoolwork, which makes tennis a relaxing change of pace. She’s also in several clubs, one having to do with her interest in the medical science field.
“I have a good balance, I think,” said Herning, whose 10-year-old brother Stefan is an up-and-comer. “I know a lot of girls who started the same age as me, they kind of ran out of determination. They were tired, their heart wasn’t in it as much. I’m lucky I still love it as much as I did when I was little.”
So are the Bulldogs, as she has played a big part in the emergence of a great team.
Hopewell Valley Central High School’s Courtney Greener competes against Stuart Country Day School’s Margaret Jiin in third singles at Stuart in Princeton Oct. 24, 2016. Greener won 4-6, 6-2, 10-6. (Photo by Martin Griff.),
