By:TONY BELLISSIMO
"The girls are working hard to achieve greater success," Coach Sue Hirschbein-Bodnar said. "We brought back all but two starters, so we're expecting to be at least as competitive as we were last year."
Since 35 kids tried out this fall, Long Beach was able to get a JV program off the ground. It should serve as a feeder system for the varsity, which at 17-deep is the smaller of the two teams by one. Amy Leder was named JV coach.
"I don't know if we've ever had a JV team-certainly not since I've been here," Hirschbein-Bodnar said. "It's exciting. It allows many more girls to compete and that's the main thing."
Most of the varsity starters at singles and doubles are set, although things could change before the start of the second half of the season when the lineup must be frozen. It's unlikely anything will interrupt the top three singles of junior Jessica Lake, Jacki Lewy and Danielle Shreck.
Lake returns after playing No. 1 singles as a sophomore-a tall order considering most of her matches were against seniors. "The added experience is only going to help her," Hirschbein-Bodnar said.
Lewy, who split time at third singles and first doubles a year ago, worked hard during the summer to secure the No. 2 singles spot. And freshman Danielle Shreck, who the coach described as "smooth and composed" on the court, is at third singles.
The Lady Marines have tremendous chemistry in doubles, and that's a ticket for success. Seniors Amanda Fusco and Bianca Ferrantelli comprise the top pair and have played together for quite some time. "They get along great on and off the court," Hirschbein-Bodnar said.
Junior Kara Morgenstern, Lewy's partner a year ago, pairs with junior Alyssa Nigro to form a solid second doubles tandem. Nigro contributed at second doubles and third singles in 2003.
Seniors Melissa Rauch and Julie Costello are returning starters and bring experience to the table at third doubles, while junior Stephanie Lefkowitz and freshman Mallory Nigro are trying to hold off three other all-junior pairs (Laura Hershberg and Michelle Barras), (Joanna Folk and Erika Breitfeller), (Rachel Price and Alyssa Kamzan) at fourth doubles.
The Lady Marines compete in a conference with Lynbrook, South Side, Massapequa, Lawrence, Hewlett and Calhoun. They play their first three matches on the road before Lawrence visits on Sept. 28.
