Women's Tennis Faces New Division, Bigger Challenges

The Chatham High School women's tennis team enters the fall as defending Northwest Jersey Conference champions and North Jersey Section 2 Group II champions. However, the Cougars may face an even bigger challenge this season.

The team will now be competing in Group III, where the Cougars could face larger schools, including powerhouse programs in Millburn and Mendham, in the state tournament.

"It's going to be hard to repeat [the sectional championship] because now we are in Group III," head coach Bruce Humphreys said, "but we have more power this year."

Providing that power are senior captains Nicki Ross, Greta Leberfinger and Kelsey Hart. The roster is rounded out by juniors Kelsey Perselay, Emily Barbey, Kendall Contri and Caroline McCann.

While the team will be facing tougher competition, the Cougars are looking to "do well in states," said Ross, a captain who was featured in Sports Illustrated in March.

Ross said that the team works together to help others improve.

"We definitely have good chemistry on the team and get along very well. It's fun, but we know when we have to do work," Ross said. "We are all comfortable enough to give each other pointers."

So far the team has also become comfortable winning. The Cougars started the season 3-0 with victories over Whippany Park, Bernards High and Madison.

The Lady Cougars won three matches against Bernards High on Monday, but two others were rained out. Humphreys hopes to make up the two matches, one single and one double, on Friday.

While the Cougars' conference play will be relatively competitive, the team believes it will be most challenged in state tournament play and its match against Mendham on Oct. 25.

The team is slated to face Hanover Park at home on Wednesday at 4 p.m.