UPDATED: NHS girls tennis team features solid experience this season

NUTLEY, NJ — The Nutley High School girls tennis team is enjoying a great season so far.

Nutley had a 6-3 record through Sept. 21. The team defeated Bloomfield, 4-1, in the season opener on the road on Sept. 7; defeated Irvington, 5-0, on Sept. 8 at home; and defeated Cedar Grove, 3-2, on Sept.12 at home. After losing at Caldwell, 5-0, on Sept. 14, Nutley defeated Bayonne, 5-0, on Sept. 15 at home and Belleville, 5-0, on Sept. 16, in Belleville. Nutley lost to West Essex, 5-0, in the first round of the Essex County Tournament and lost to West Orange, 3-2, in the consolation match on Sept. 20 at the Althea Gibson Tennis Center at Branch Brook Park in Newark, then defeated Bloomfield again, 3-2, on Sept. 21.

“We have a really nice, solid lineup,” NHS head coach Valerie Martin said. 

Nutley has three strong singles players, said Martin. At the first singles spot, freshman Hazel Tat is physically strong and mentally tough, Martin said. 

Alexis Fontanilla, a sophomore at second singles, has a great game, strong topspin shots and improved consistency from last year, said the coach. 

Rebecca Caporaso, a junior, is the third singles player. “She is still playing well and has a strong singles game,” Martin said.

The first doubles team consists of sophomore Sindi Gjonbocari and junior Marina Calleo. They are a solid doubles team, said Martin. 

“Sindi is fearless at the net and has a tough serve while Marina is very steady with her ground strokes, which gives the team a nice balance,” Martin said.

Freshmen Lara Hindistan and Mae Zeik make up the second doubles team.

“They are a good, solid second doubles team,” Martin said.

The other seven varsity players are seniors Maria Mathew, Marina Costanza and Amanda Bordei, juniors Maria Velikanova and Olivia Song and freshman Viha Kothakanda. They all earned the spots on the varsity team and will rotate in matches, Martin said.

“This was a very tough year for earning positions on the team,” Martin said. “There were 28 girls trying out, which is a good problem to have. However, with only seven starters on varsity, it was very long practices and challenges to get to those top spots, with many deserving girls. We are looking forward to practicing hard and playing tough. We are playing some solid competitive teams this season. We have our goals set for this season, and we are positively looking forward to reaching those goals.” 

The head coach of the JV team is Valerie Martin’s son, Joe Martin. The JV team has a large group of returning and new players.

Here are upcoming matches:

• Sept. 23: vs. Glen Ridge, home, 4 p.m.
• Sept. 29: at Golda Och Academy, 4 p.m.
• Oct. 4: vs. Belleville, home, 4 p.m.

Home matches are held at DeMuro Park tennis courts.

Editor’s note: This article was updated to include the team’s won-loss record to date.

Photo Courtesy of Valerie Martin.

  Nutley High School girls tennis