Bulldogs strive to end season the right way BY SHAWN LAYTON Staff Writer Things have been going much smoother through the second half of the season for the Metuchen High School girls tennis team. "We've been able to avenge some earlier 3-2 losses with a couple of 3-2 wins recently," Metuchen head coach Rob Strauss said. "It's nice playing teams a second time and faring better." This month the Bulldogs turned the tables on South River and Middlesex, teams that defeated Metuchen 3-2 in the early stages of the season. In the first meeting between the two teams, Metuchen's wins came from No. 2 singles player Chrissy Wooding and No. 3 singles player Cori Zack. Zack is currently 13-5 in her sophomore season and was named to the GMC All-Blue Division team. Wooding and Zack registered wins over their respective opponents from Middlesex once again while the tandem of Jen O'Neill and Caroline Finden swung the match in the Bulldogs' favor with a 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 2 doubles. "Jen wasn't playing at No. 2 earlier in the season but she's worked herself into the lineup and she's done a nice job," Strauss said. "With some different combinations, we're feeling like we have the right mix at doubles." Finden and O'Neill also helped Metuchen avenge a 4-1 loss to Carteret in a 3-2 rematch win this month. Finden and O'Neill topped their opponents from Carteret 6-2, 4- 6, 6-3. "That was their best match of the season - by far," Strauss said. "They stepped up when we really needed them to because they really wanted to win." Zack won easily at No. 3 singles, 6-2, 6-2, and No. 1 singles player Christina Mancheno won her match 6-4, 7-5. "I think that win says a lot about how far we've come and the improvement we've made," Strauss said. "That's what it's all about." The Bulldogs will look to get back on the winning side after dropping their last two matches to Cardinal McCarrick and Sayreville. The team will conclude the season on the road with a match against GMC Blue Division champs Highland Park at 3:45 p.m. Nov. 1. In the first match between the two teams, Highland Park won 5-0. The Owls have suffered just one loss in the division play this season. "We did manage to play them tough," Strauss said. "Three of the five matches went to five sets, but we were unable to win any of those close matches. We'll see if we can sneak one out to end the season." In some noteworthy off-the-court news, Strauss and a handful of his tennis players from both the girls and boys teams at Metuchen participated in the Walk to Cure Juvenile Diabetes over the weekend at Cook College. They were joined by Metuchen teacher Lisa Kistler and raised over $1,000 for the cause. "It was a great experience for us," Strauss said. "I'd like to make it an annual event for our team to get involved in some community service."