Cherry Hill East defeats Millville, 5-0, for South Jersey Group 4 girls' tennis title

Jamie Silverberg is finishing her high school tennis career the same way she started: As a key player for a South Jersey Group 4 champion.

Silverberg's 6-1, 6-0 win at first singles on Monday sparked fifth-seeded Cherry Hill East to a 5-0 victory over second-seeded Millville in the South Jersey Group 4 championship match at Kingsway High School.

"It's awesome to end my high school career this way," said Silverberg, who defeated Millville's Amanda Hickman on a windy afternoon. "To have this experience with my teammates is awesome."

Silverberg was a No. 2 singles player as a freshman when Cherry Hill East won its last sectional title in 2008. She has been a No. 1 singles player for the last three seasons and has more than 100 career victories. But the Cougars were rebuilding a bit in 2009 and 2010.

Even this season, Cherry Hill East wasn't the favorite to capture the South Jersey title.

"I can honestly say I didn't expect this," Silverberg said. "But that makes it even better. We've worked so hard to get this far."

As the No. 5 seed, Cherry Hill East defeated No. 1 Toms River North, No. 4 Vineland, and No. 2 Millville in the sectional tournament. The Cougars advanced to Wednesday's state semifinals at Mercer County Park.

"I'm so happy that Jamie gets a chance to go up north and compete against those girls," Cherry Hill East coach Mary Jewett said. "She's never lost a team match her entire career. When we step off the bus, we're ahead, 1-love, because we have her."

The Cougars also got straight-set victories from No. 2 singles Allyson Wolf, who won by a 7-6 (7-4), 6-1 score as well as No. 3 singles Amanda Elfman, who won by a 6-4, 6-2 score.

The Cougars' second doubles teams of Tyler Haaz and Paige Leone won by a 6-1, 6-1 score, while the first doubles team of Allie Haaz and Nikita Shukla battled through a long match and emerged with 6-2, 6-7 (7-5), 6-2 victory.

"These girls have worked hard," Jewett said. "They deserve it."

Cherry Hill East 5, Millville 0

Singles: Jamie Silverberg def. Amanda Hickman, 6-1, 6-0; Allyson Wolf def. Emily Corson, 7-6 (7-4), 6-1; Amanda Elfman def. Erin Chard, 6-4 6-2.

Doubles: Allie Haaz and Nikita Shukla def. Danielle Mazzola and Brooke Thompson, 6-2, 6-7 (7-5), 6-2; Tyler Haaz and Paige Leone def. Chelsea Charlesworth and Noelle Brecht, 6-1, 6-1.

South Jersey Group 3. Moorestown secured its 23d consecutive sectional championship with a 5-0 shutout of Ocean City. Breezy Maravich, Shelby Burke, and Kelsey Ham provided straight-set wins for the Quakers. (22-3).

Moorestown 5, Ocean City 0

Singles: Breezy Maravich, M, def. Gabby DuBruielle, 6-4, 7-5; Shelby Burke, M, def. Aida Pleho, 6-2, 6-1; Kelsey Ham, M, def. Carling Mott, 6-0, 6-3.

Doubles: Rachel Bass and Lauren Culbertson, M, def. Lauren Loggi and Leah Kornberg, 6-2, 6-2; Kelly Hopkins and Sarah Kim, M, def. Heather Mazzeo and Eva Nusbaum, 6-2, 6-1.

South Jersey Group 2. Haddonfield got 6-0, 6-0 wins from Erica Pascocello and Victoria Martinez at second and third singles en route to a 4-1 win over Woodstown in the title match at Pitman's Shertel Park.

Haddonfield 4, Woodstown 1

Singles: Lindsey Kayati, W, def. Amanda Lanciano, 6-1, 7-5; Erica Pascocello, H, def. Shelby McCullough, 6-0, 6-0; Victoria Martinez, H, def. Victoria Russell, 6-0, 6-0.

Doubles: Catherine Senopoulos and Arpie Senopoulos, H, def. Jessica Demarest and Kensie Weatherstone, 6-0, 6-1; Rebecca Senopoulos and Julie Harris, H, def. Alexandra Podosek and Jessie Walker, 6-0, 6-4.

South Jersey Group 1. Pennsville swept Tri-County Conference rival Pitman, 5-0, and grabbed the sectional trophy at Woodstown. The Eagles got doubles wins from the teams of Caitlin Tilton and Amber Lake, and Lauren Kiger and Brooke Coleman.

Pennsville 5, Pitman 0

Singles: Brynn Buechler, PV, def. Terra McHenry, 6-1, 6-1; Tori Yeich, PV, def. Taylor Groff, 6-4, 6-2; Amy Rapp, PV, def. Sammie Baker, 6-1, 6-2.

Doubles: Caitlin Tilton and Amber Lake, PV, def. Kalla Jovanovic and Leah Jayne, 6-4, 6-2; Lauren Kiger and Brooke Coleman, PV, def. Pam Harrison and Becky Pierpont, 6-3, 6-3.

South Jersey Non-Public A. Bishop Eustace suffered a 5-0 loss at unbeaten Red Bank Catholic in the final.

Red Bank Catholic 5, Bishop Eustace 0

Singles: Dena Tanenbaum, R, def. Ania Krawiec, 7-54, 6-0; Rocine Moschella, R, def. Erika Reagan, 6-3, 6-1; Jenna Pellegrino, R, def. Sarah Sperling, 6-1, 6-0.

Doubles: Emma Giordano and Leigh Oliver, R, def. Krista Morgano and Melissa Morgano, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4; Kerrin Clark and Jenna Giordano, R, def. Nicole Filipek and Kelsey Mauro, 6-1, 6-2.

South Jersey Non-Public B. Ranney School used a three-set win at second doubles to escape with the title, 3-2, over Moorestown Friends.

Ranney School 3, Moorestown Friends 2

Singles: Amanda Connell, MF, def. Melissa Cantave, 6-2, 6-2; Natalie Cantave, RS, def. Katie Teitelbaum, 6-3, 6-3; Giula DiGuglielmo, RS, def. Logan Horn, 6-0, 6-1.

Doubles: Sam Chen and Lauren Carney, MF, def. Jood Ani and Louise Cerami-Guarino, 6-2, 6-1; Rachel Burstiner and Pauline Braka, RS, def. Lauren Joffe and Claire Langlotz, 7-6 (7-4), 5-7, 6-3.