Metuchen tries to do better the second time around BY SHAWN LAYTON Staff Writer After a pair of wins to open last week's schedule, the Metuchen High School girls tennis team dropped its next two matches to fall to 4-7 on the season. "We lost a lot of close 3-2 matches early on," Metuchen head coach Rob Strauss said. "We're looking forward to seeing some of those teams that beat us the first time around for a second time. The Bulldogs opened the week with an impressive 5-0 win over division rival Cardinal McCarrick. Number one singles player Christina Mancheno led the way with a three-set victory over McCarrick's Kristy Rivera. After dropping the opening set 1-6, Mancheno rallied to take the next two sets 6- 4, 6-1. Chrissy Wooding cruised through her match at No. 2 singles to beat Jessica Hartland 6-1, 6-1 and No. 3 singles player Cori Zack defeated Jiyun Won 6-3, 6-3. Cori is having a nice season," Strauss said. "She will enter this week at 9-2." Strauss went with Tiffany Mongiardini and Paula Clarkson at No. 1 doubles and the tandem defeated Rachel Soltis and Jessica Costa 6-3, 6-4. At No. 2 doubles Caroline Finden and Jen O'Neill coasted to a 6-1, 6-1 win over Alanna Cholewa. "We've played several different combinations of doubles teams this season," Strauss said. "We're still toying around with combinations." After the sweep of Cardinal McCarrick, Metuchen used two new pairings at doubles to help register a 4-1 victory over South Amboy. Although Chrissy Magruder and partner Alyssa Chan lost to South Amboy's Alicia Bancer and Celeste Bartlett at No. 1 doubles, the tandem of Olivia Thomas and Faith Borden defeated Stephanie Sirna and Jessica Hoffman 6-1-61. "I thought all four did a really nice job," Strauss said. "They were all a little anxious at first but they settled down. Tennis is difficult because there is no bench and you don't have opportunities to put players in for a couple of minutes to evaluate them. All four of the girls played well and gave us valuable court time." With the doubles teams splitting their matches, the Bulldogs wrapped up the victory with all three singles players winning in straight sets. "Our singles players have all played well," Strauss said. "Chrissy and Cori have really heeded the advice to be aggressive. They really understand the benefits of being aggressive and finishing off volleys. Both played doubles last season and gained experience at the net and it's paying off. A large percentage of their points have been won at the net." The Dogs will look to get back to .500 this week when the schedule resumes today at 3:45 p.m. at Cranford. Metuchen will look to avenge an earlier 4-1 loss to Spotswood when the two teams meet a second time Oct. 11. After that, the team will wrap up the week with a road match against a South River team they previously beat this season on Oct. 12.