Great Together, Even Better Apart?

Playing as the second doubles team last year, Kai Narayanan and Steve Marchunt dominated the Colonial Conference to the tune of a 19-3 record. When they took the court, the West Deptford High School boys tennis team was just about assured a point.

This season, Narayanan and Marchunt have managed to be twice as effective.

The duo split this season to become the No. 2 and No. 3 singles players and have gotten off to a blazing start, at a combined 8-0.

So much for needing a transition period.

“During the summer, I practiced a lot with Steve and some of my other teammates,” said Narayanan after the Eagles (4-0) defeated Paulsboro, 5-0 Thursday. “The hardest thing (playing singles compared to doubles) is trying not to end the point as soon as possible by rushing things. You have to not rush things if they try to lob it. Once the transition got there after the first few matches, it got easy.”

Narayanan, a junior, made the jump to No. 2 singles, while Marchunt, also a junior, took over at No. 3. Each player cited conditioning as being crucial to succeeding at singles, which is why both put in plenty of work in the offseason.

“Over the offseason I was running a lot, because with singles it’s a lot more running,” said Marchunt. “It’s been easy transitioning. I feel pretty good about myself at singles.”

Marchunt said it took some time to get used to not having Narayanan there to back him up, but once he got used to covering the full court, he became quite comfortable playing singles.

Before the season began head coach Aaron Burr said he would need his singles players to provide consistent points, since his doubles teams were comprised of four players who lacked varsity experience. His players have responded just the way he hoped.

Led by No. 1 singles player and returning Colonial Conference champion Paulo Parente, the group moved to a combined 12-0 Thursday.

Of equal importance, the doubles teams of Brian Keane/Mike Mckendry and Dan Semler/Ethan Nicholas have only dropped three matches all season.

“They have their bad days, but when they have the confidence that the three of us are all there, they play better,” Narayanan said of the doubles teams. “Right now, they are doing a lot better than we expected them to.”

Marchunt added that the pressure put on the singles players to produce has helped him elevate his game.

“It’s actually more motivating because I know I have to win,” said Marchunt. “But (the doubles teams) are playing really well right now, so that backs us all up.”

The Eagles are back in action today as they host Sterling at 3:45 p.m.