By Brynn McGuiness, Staff Writer

The varsity tennis team finished its season with a 10-7 overall record and a 6-2 divisional record under the leadership of head coach Dana Lenneper, assistant coach Rob O’Connor, senior captains Lia Bustillo, Isa Murphy and Hailey Scarantino and junior captain Lauren Ward. The team qualified for and competed in the NJSIAA State Tournament as the sixth seed in the South Jersey Non-Public B division and beat Wildwood Catholic 5-0 in the first round. 

The program has seen major growth and improvement since last year, and Bob O’Brien coached a full junior varsity team, making this the first year the school has fielded full teams at both the varsity and junior varsity levels.

Senior Hailey S. prepares to return the ball to her opponent from Keansburg on Sept. 23. (Photo courtesy of Lynn Retterer)

“The team has improved a lot, and I think a large part of that is the increased participation,” junior Hannah Noorigan said. 

Although the varsity team started the season with a loss against Peddie, the players quickly turned their season around by securing three consecutive wins against Mater Dei, Keansburg and Point Pleasant Beach. 

Senior Sydney Riepl led the team in singles matches with a personal record of 14-3 and progressed to the semifinals in the Monmouth County Tournament. 

In the NJSIAA Tournament win against Wildwood Catholoic, freshman Catharine Little, sophomore Haley Nelson and Riepl each won their singles matches 6-0. The doubles teams of junior Bryce Krampert and Murphy, and Noorigian and Scarantino beat their opponents 6-0 as well in both sets. The team lost to third seed Ranney 4-1 in the second round of the tournament.

“We’ve come such a long way in four short years, and along the way, my teammates have become some of my closest friends,” Scarantino said.