LINWOOD — The Mainland Regional High School girls tennis team is 9-0 so far this season, but when coach Eileen Fortis looks down the road at playoffs, which begin next week, she knows the picture has changed.
The Mustang girls made it to the finals of the South Jersey Group III tournament last year before falling to Shawnee. They reached the semifinals the three years before that and in the 2021 season, Mainland was crowned the South Jersey champion.
This year, they could be knocked off much earlier. It’s not because the talent of the team has fallen off, it’s because the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) has drastically combined sections.
Through last year, there were four sections — South Jersey, Central Jersey, North Jersey 1 and North Jersey 2. This year, it is North and South. Central and South Jersey sections have been combined, as have the North Jersey sections.
The South Jersey section has 34 teams, including a number of powerhouses formerly in Central Jersey.
Fortis said she is proud of how her team has been competing and had to fight through a number of matches against good opponents. The girls’ early Cape-Atlantic League battle with Ocean City (9-2, but moved down to Group II this season), ended with a 4-1 victory, but four of the matches went into the third-set tiebreaker and the fifth was close.
“There have definitely been some really tough opponents. They’ve shown the ability to dig down and find a way,” Fortis said of her team. “There are a lot of good teams that we’re facing and repeatedly facing. Hopefully these kids keep believing in themselves a little more each day and keep working.”
Asked if her team was shooting for another South Jersey title as one of the goals, Fortis said “that would obviously be a huge goal now with the realignment. It’s a very difficult path for us combining Central and South. And I believe only 12 teams are going to be in that (tournament).”
She noted the team “definitely” is looking at getting a piece of the CAL. “Hopefully we can maintain our level and pull that off. It would be great for the kids.”
Junior Riya Dabas is at first singles. She started at third singles last season and moved to second because of injuries. “She worked her way to number one,” Fortis said, citing her work in the off-season. “She really studies the game, analyzes her opponents and figures out what she needs to do to play them.”
Sophomore Yasmine Saloum is at second singles after making the varsity ladder last year, also because of injuries. She played at second doubles and a few matches at third singles, giving her some experience coming into this season.
The coach said Saloum has been “really phenomenal for us” and is able to keep a calm mindset. “She’s just a tough kid and real ray of sunshine.”
Saloum’s older sister, Hana, a senior, is at third singles. Hana was out due to injury last season and has struggled with injuries before.
“Hopefully we keep her health this year, but man, talk about a savvy player. She is really smart out there. She’s terrific,” Fortis said.
At first doubles is Macenzi Campbell, lost to stress fractures last year, and sophomore Remy Ponzio.
“We really want to keep (Campbell) healthy because she is a leader on the team and really brings a lot to us out there,” the coach said. Ponzio “is an awesome player,” is a force at net and “turns it up when the pressure’s on.”
Second doubles features two first-time varsity players, senior Keelyn McLaughlin and junior Brett Heist. McLaughlin started playing tennis only last year. Fortis said she suffered an injury that prevents her from playing soccer again.
“She came over to tennis and really started with no skill and now she’s starting varsity, which is such a testament to her heart, her athleticism and determination. She brings a lot of fire to the court,” the coach said. “Her partner, Brett, had no varsity experience last year, but she’s come on. She’s got the ability. She and Keelyn have done a really nice job together, feeding off of each other.”
The Mustangs were ranked second in Power Points Tuesday morning with no more matches before the cutoff Wednesday and seedings for the upcoming tournament, which begins next week. Clearview was atop the Power Points with Shawnee third, Toms River East fourth and Montgomery fifth.
The Mustangs are at Ocean City at 4 p.m. Thursday for the rematch.
– STORY and PHOTOS by DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
