Strong start has LCM tennis team in position for conference title

Posted: September 24th 2024

Senior Maddie Gilbert is the first singles player for a Lower Cape May tennis team that has won nine of its first 10 matches.

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

ERMA – The Lower Cape May Regional High School girls tennis team has been one of the surprise success stories of the 2024 fall season so far.

The Lady Tigers enjoyed a solid 14-9 campaign a season ago and despite competing in a more difficult Cape-Atlantic National Conference have won nine of their first 10 matches so far this fall, including Monday’s 4-1 result over Millville.

Lower is unbeaten so far in conference matches at 7-0.

“I’m a little surprised at how well we’ve done,” Lower coach Greg Douglass admitted. “I didn’t think we’d be 9-1. Our doubles teams were kind of inexperienced and Ainsley (Reed) went from doubles up to second singles. So we had a lot of questions. But so far they’ve answered them all.”

Senior Maddie Gilbert leads the lineup at first singles. She’s won seven of her 10 matches thus far.

“Maddie’s been battling,” Douglass said. “She’s played some very good players, so for her to be 7-3 is great.”

Douglass said Reed, a junior, and the first doubles team of junior Kayla Heinold and freshman Mia Gilbert have been extremely reliable. Reed and the first doubles team have each lost just one match.

“Our first and second singles and our first doubles team have been excellent,” Douglass said.

Junior Bryn Popdan is playing at third singles. She won in straight sets against Millville on Monday.

A number of players have been playing second doubles. Seniors Kamryn Thomas, Sophia Vitelli and Melanie Ortiz-Moreno have all seen time, although Thomas may be out for a bit with a sprained ankle. Douglass said he expects freshman Reilly Fitzpatrick to also see time at the position soon.

Lower currently holds a two-match lead in the race for the conference title and needs just two more conference wins to clinch the title outright. The team could also be seeded as high as No. 2 for the upcoming South Jersey Group I Tournament.

“We definitely want to win the division,” Douglass said. “Then for states, we’re hoping to get that second seed so we can be at home for a while. And then I think we have some girls that can do OK in the individual tournaments.”